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HISTORY 



iW TllE 



EIGHTY - THIRD 



REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 



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BY A. M. JUDSON 



CAPTAIN OP COMPANY "K.' 




k k I E , P A i : 

B. F. H. LYNN, PUBLISHES 



Xo. 13 EAST FIFTH STREET. 



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yi,s-\ v--*"*" 



DEDl (NATION 



TO THK 

MEMORY 

(IK T H E G A L L A X T D K A I) (I V T H E 

E I a H T Y - T H I R Ili , 

WHO HAVK FALLEN IX BATTLE, OR DIED OF WOUNDS AND DISKASK 

n U JNI A K FREED () M , 

AND IN DEFKNCK OP THK 

A M E ]{ I A N UNION, 

THIS HISTORY IS KKVERENTLY INSCRIBED I!Y ONE OF THEIK 
SVRVIVING COMPANIONS IN ARMS, 

THE AUTHOR. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

PROLOGUE. 17 

CIIAPTEK I, 

McLane's Erie Regimont — Its orf^anization at Camp Wayne — Departure for Pittsburg — 
Our arrival— Camp Wiikins and Cioip Wrigbt- Ineideuta— Our return to Krie 21 

CHAPTER II. 

Col. McL=tno i-4sues another call for Yohuiteers — Organization of (he Eighty-Third at 
Camp McLane — Departure for, and arrival at, Washington — Encamped on Meridian 
Hill — Crossing of tlie Long Bridge and arrival at Hall's Hill — Our Discipline — A 
Grand Camp Festival — In Winter Quarters 24 

CHAPTER IIL 

The approacli of Spring — The Army in motion towards Manassas — Arrival at Fairfax 
Conn House — Evacuation of Manassas — Return to Alexandria — l'.n)liarkation and 
Voyage down tha Potomac — Arrival in IIimptoQ Ro*ds — Tue landiiig at Hampton 
Village — In Camp 27 

CHAPTER IV. 

Reconnoissance to Big Betliol — Terrible charge of the Eighty-Third, in whicli nobody got 
hurt 29 

CHAPTER V. 

The March to Yorktown — Seige and evacuation of the place — Incidents of the Siege 31 

CHAPTER VI, 

Up the York River to West Point — A night's reconnoissance up the Pamunkej' — Terrific 
charge of the Eighty-Third and their capture of a Congoan Metropolis 33 

CHAPTER VI L 

March to the Chickahominy — The battle of Hanover Court House — Rise in th© Chicka- 

hominy — Attempt to bridge and crot-s the river 3(5 

CHAPTER VI I L 

The battle at Gaines' Mill — Death of Col. McLane and Major Naghel — Our retreat across 
the Chickahominy 3'J 

CHAPTER IX. 

The retreat to the James River — Supporting the batteries at Turkej'^ Bond — The Viattlo of 
Malvern Hill — In camp at Harrison's Linding — Expedition to ihe South side of the 
James— t!ommencement of the March down the Peninsula id 

CHAPTER X. 

March down the Peninsula — Arri\ al at Newport News — Up tlie Potomac to Acquia Creek 
— Up the Rappahannock — March to Manassas — The battle of Bull Run — In camp at 
Hall's Hill— At Arlington Heights 50 



XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER Xr, 

The Campaign in Maryland — Buttlt* of Antietam — Tbe battle of Sbepberdstown Ferry — 
Ticketing on the Potomac — The March to Fredericksburg — Gen. Burnside in comm tnd 
of the Army 53 

CHAPTER XII. 
The battle of Fredericksburg 57 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Return to Camp — (letting ready for Winter Quarters— Roconnoissance to Richards' Ford — 
Bumside's Kalabasis; or The Mud March— Gen. Hooker in romtnand — Winter Quar- 
ters at la^t — Return of Spring— The battle of Chancellorsville — (Jol. Viufont in (!om- 
inand of the Brigade — Guarding the Fords along the Rappahannock- -The Enemy 
discovered to be moving towards the Potomac— March to Aldie— the battle of Mi<ldle- 
burg — Crossing the Potomac — Arrive at Frederick — Gen. Meade in command of tbe 
Army ^ 61 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The March to Gettysburg and the Battles of the 2d and 3d of July— Death of Col. Strong 
Vincent fit? 

CHAPTER XV. 

Pursuit of the Enemy— the March to Williainsport — Skirmish at Jones' Cross R ads — 
Re-crossing the Potomac — March down Loudon A^alley 73 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Tbe affair at Manaisas Gap — March to Bsvelry Ford — To Culpepper — The retreat to 
Centreville — Again on the Advance — Auburn — Three Mile Station — The battle of Rap- 
pahnnnock Station 76 

CHAPTER XVII. 

The Mine Run Campaign .' 80 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Author makes a digression, and descants iipon the glorious advantages of being a 
Soldier .». 83 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The digression continued : in which the author describes the Eighty- Third in winter quar- 
ters, with other scenes and passages in camp life 86 

CHAPTER XX. 

The digression still continued ; wherein the author shows of what aa army of patriots is 
composed, and winds up with a philosophical essay encourage 89 

CHAPTER XXI. 

The Campaign of ISt^il— Return of Spr.ng- Gen. Grant in command— The Army again 
in motion— Crossing the Rapidan— Battle of the Wilderness- The Battle of Laurel 
Hill 9$ 

CHAPTER XXIL 

How we got readj' to make a change and didn't— March to Spotsylvania Court Hou.ie— 
March to North Anna— Affair at Pole Cat Creek— (Battle at Jericho Ford)— Skirmish- 
ing at Noell's Station 98 

CHAPTER XXIIL 

Thy fourth liank movement— March to Cold Harbor— Affair at the Tolopotomoy— Battle 
at Betbesda, or Old Church— The tifih tlank movement— March to the James— Crossing 
the River— March to Petersburgh 101 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Battles of the ISth— The Siege of Petersburg— The explosion of the Mine, and thebatlleof 
July 30th— Incidents of the Siege— Battles on the VVeldon Railroad— Kxpiration of the 
term of service of original men of the Eighty-Third and their return home 104 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Re-organization of the Regiment into a Battalion — Actional Peeble's Farm— Raid on the 
Weldon Railroad at Stony Station — Actions at Hatcher's Rnn — The Battalion re-in- 
forced by iour new Companies and became a Regiment again — They take part in the 
movements which resulted in tlie evacuation of Petersburgij and Richmond, and in the 
capture of Lee's Armj'^ — Their return to Washington, muster out, and return 

liome lOS 

Field and Stall' of McLane's Krie Regiment m 

Field and Staff of the Eighty-Third HI 

Muster Roll of Company A 112 

Muster Roll of Company B 114 

Muster Roll of Company C -. 117 

Muster Roll of Company D 119 

Muster Roll of Company E 122 

Muster Roll of Company F 125 

Muster Roll of Company U 128 

Muster Roll of Company H 131 

Muster Roll of Company I l;j4 

Muster Roll of Company K 137 

Summary 140 



EujUty-TUird Reyhnent, l\ V. 



17 



PROLOGUE. 



When I first conceived the idea of writiug 
the History of the Eighty-Third, I was at a 
loss what style of composition to adopt; well 
knowing that when a man appears before the 
public in the character of a historian, he 
should endeavor to please his readers by a 
proper dignity of style, as well as by a scru- 
pulous adherence to truth in his narrative. 
With this grand jiroject in view, I began to 
cast about for a suitable model ; and the first 
person I hit upon was Gibbon, the immortal 
author of the Decline and Fall of the Roman 
Empire, which I had left off reading at the 
four hundred and twenty-fifth page. Fourth 
Volume, when the war broke out, and which I 
have never returned to since. With Gibbon in 
my eye, I sat down to pen a pompous opening: 
but after floundering about for a whole hour, 
making as many flourishes as a country writ- 
ing-master, and conceiving a thousand splen- 
did ideas without giving birth to a single one 
of them, I all at once came to, and said to my- 
self, WhaVs the use ? I am not writing the De- 
cline and Fall of the American Empire, and 
hope never to have that opportunity. Nor am I 
writing the history of the Rebellion, nor the his- 
tory of the Army, nor even of a corps, division, 
or brigade; but simply the history of a single 
regiment — a history which tvill be read only in a 
small portion of this great country, and by the 
survivors only of that regiment and their imme 
diate friends and relatives. A II they care for is 
the simple truth, and I can give it to them in 
plain language and in my own style. In one 
moment after coming to this sensible conclu- 
sion, I plumed my wings for a fresh effort, and, 
with that buoyancy whicli he alone feels who 
dips his pen in the inkstand of his own heart, 
I rushed into my history. 

I suppose it is not strictly Gibbonian to offer 
apologies for defects which no author believes 
that he possesses, or which, if he did believe it, 
he would show more sense by correcting at 
once ; and even if it was Gibbonian I should 
not follow the example. Nor can it be strictly 
in accordance with the style of that author to 
excuse himself for not having written what 
nobody expected him to write. But inasmuch 
as politics form a prominent feature in all 
speeches, lectures, literary articles and re- 
views, sermons and histories, at the present 
day, I respectfully beg leave to inform my 
readers that, for the sake of novelty, I have 
departed from the prevailing custom, and that 
this, therefore, is not a political history. Nor 
is it an essay on the Art of War, after the fash- 
ion of Jomiiii, who, taking the campaigns of 
Napoleon as the bases of his observations, 
shows wherein Napoleon might have been 
whipped by his enemies if Napoleon had not 
whipped them. With long-windod criticisms 
upon the characters of certain military com- 
manders, or upon the mistakes and lailures of 
the war, I have nothing lo do. If I liad \\ 



should reserve them for a separate work : as 
did Julius Ca?sar, who first wrote a plain nar- 
rative of the events connected with his cam- 
paign in Gaul, and afterwards wrote a book on 
the mistakes of that successful campaign. The 
history survived, but the criticism perished: 
and it is barely possible that had he combined 
tlie two. the one would have dragged tiie other 
down, and both would have gone out of exist- 
ence togetlier. Taking admonition, therefore, 
from this example I have endeavored to con- 
fine myself to facts: and when I state that the 
soldiers of McClellan's army had confidence in 
his management, that they had a strong at- 
tachment for him, and became enthusiastic in 
his presence, I state merely the facts of history, 
not my opinion of McClellan. But inasmuch 
as he failed to make the campaign against 
Richmond " short, sharp, and decisive," as he 
had half promised, it would be impossible for 
me to argue that this confidence was misplaced 
without raising an issue of opinion, and opin- 
ions are not the facts of history. 

If I were writing this book for the whole 
world to gaze upon, I should stand greatly in 
fear of the critics; or I am not an author by 
profession, and, if I know myself, I never shall 
be. Literary critics being out of the question 
then, there are two classes of verbal criticrs, 
whom alone I have any occasion to fear. The 
first consists of those members of the regiment 
who may take offence because I have not be- 
stowed sufficient attention upon their claims 
to immortality, which seeming neglect, I can 
assure them, is without design or malice afore- 
thought on my part. As a general rule, I pre- 
fer not to give ray opinion of a man until he is 
dead ; for then I can abuse him without fear of 
a licking, or praise him without incurring the 
charge of toadyism. If, therefore, any one of 
the surviving members of the Eighty-Third 
thinks himself aggrieved in this respect, all I 
have to say is that he should have died sooner. 
To be frank there are so many men of that 
regiment, of whose soldierly qualities I havo 
a high opinion, that I have sometimes been 
uncharitable enough to wish that they iiad de- 
parted this life up(m some glorious field of bat- 
tle, just for tlie sake of giving me an opportu- 
nity of speaking my mind concerning them. 
This thing of praising a man while he is still 
living is a very risky business ; for he may do 
well for a while and then turn out badly in the 
end. But if he dies, and dies while his fame 
is upon him, you can safely bestow upon him 
his just sliare of praise; for he cannot then 
come back to spoil the good report which he 
has left beliind him. 

The second class (uiiisists of those men who 
are generally found "all cut to fiieces," 
a mile to the i-ear in time of battle, and wlio 
generally know what took phi(M» at the fr<int 
l)etter tlian thost^ who remained at the post of 
duty and saw the whole allair. I am pleased 



IS 



Judson's History of 



to be able to say that, of all the men who came 
from Northwestern Peousylvania, there were 
very few belonging to the Eighty-Third of this 
character. I can only ask these individuals, if 
there be any, to deal as leniently with me as 
possible, and not to open their thunders until 
the tirst edition shall have been exhausted: 
otherwise they might so damage the sale of the 
book as to involve both myself and others in a 
heavy pecuniary loss. 

When we sit down to write the history of a 
man, who has distinguished Iiimself, we al- 
ways betray a remarkable anxiety to trace his 
pedigree to a royal or noble ancestry, if an 
European ; if an American, to a Revolutionary 
parentage, in order to show that if he has any 
lighting (jualities he derived them from some 
other source besides himself; although his 
w^arlike ancestor may have been nothing more 
than an army teamster. Now, to derive a 
man's fighting qualities from somebody else 
besides himself, may or may not be a desira- 
ble thing; but acting on the principle that 
every great endowment is inherited, I have 
thought it appropriate to commetjce this work 
with a history of McLane's Three Months', or, 
as it was more commonly called, Krie Regi- 
ment; for I consider that it was the paternal 
ancestor of the Eighty-Third, and that what 
fighting qualities the Kighty-Third n^ay have 
shown were all derived from that regiment, 
who, for lack of a common enemy used to light 
almost every day among themselves. About 
one-third of the officers, and about one-fourth 
of the menoi the Eighty-Third, including its 
first Colonel and Lieut. Colonel, were members 
of that organization ; and these are quite 
enough to establish its claims to a legitimate 
paternity. The Eighty-Third had also two 
younger brothers by the same father, to wit, 
the Hundred-and-Eieventh and the Hundred- 
and-Forty-Fifth : for the Major of the Thrte 
Months' regiment was the Colonel and origin- 
ator of the first, and the Colonel and Lt. Colonel 
of the latter graduated, also, at that primal in- 
stitution which w^on its renown upon the peace- 
ful shores of the Alleghany. To trace the pedi- 
gree still closer the Hundrod-and-Forty-Fifth 
was both the brother and the son of the Eighty- 
Third, for its Colonel was also a member of the 
Eighty-Third. At all events, the relationship 
of the thr6e regiments is close enough for them 
to dwell together in unity, and not to get juar- 
reling hereafter, like heirs at law, over the lib- 
eral patrimony of glory which the people have 
awarded to them all. 

As to the military history of the members of 
regiment, which wilt be found at the end of 
the volume, and which I consider by far the 
most important part of it, a few words of ex- 
planation are necessary. If there are any 
mistalvPs in the spelling of the names, or in the 
dates of enlistment, dis<!harge, or death; or if 
the name of any member has been omitted, the 
partjr so aggrieved must lay the blame at the 
doors of those who have had charge of tlie 
company records, and not at mine. Especially 
must the blame be laid upon those who had the 
making up of the Muster-Out Rolls at Harris- 
burg; for these were the otdy guides I bad in 
making out thnt record. But I apprehend that 
very few errors will be found ; and it wi>nld 
be an unusually correct account indeed, that 
contained no errors in a list t)f nearly two 
thous ukI names. The liislory of those whci are 
crediteil aN Wounded or taken prisoners, lob 
taiued from other sources, tiot from those Rolls; 



and a very interesting time I have had of it. 
Thej are as perfect in that respect as it is possi- 
ble lor any one person to make them ; and if any 
wt-unded hero has been le(t standing out in the 
cold, who is to blame t)ut himself? For did I 
not cause notices to be published in nearly every 
paper in Northwestern Pennsylvania, calling 
upon every man who had been Avounded, to 
send in his name? From the very few that re- 
sponded to those calls, I concluded that but very 
few of them cared anything about the glorj' of 
having been punctured in battle. But the day 
will come when they will say, "I would not 
take a hundred dollars for my wound !" And 
the day is coming, too, when others will say, 
"I would give a hundred dollars for that 
wound !" The list will be lound to contain the 
names of all those only who had been enrolled 
up to the 7th ot September, 1864, when the re- 
maining members of the regiment whose time 
had expired, were mustered out of service. I 
have grouped them all under the same heads 
under which they were accounted for on the 
Muster-Out Rolls ; as these alone give a correct 
status of the regiment as it then existed. The 
military history of each member has, however, 
been continued, under the same head, down to 
the present time, as far as it could be ascer- 
tained. So that the summary of officers, of 
men deceased, discharged, and so forth, will 
not be found to give a correct statement of the 
regiment as it now stands, but as it stood at 
the time of mustering out, the object having 
been to give the sum total of all the men who 
have at various periods belonged to the regi- 
ment. 

I have said that this list contains the names 
of all the men who were enrolled up to Sep- 
tember 1864. I beg leave to correct the expres- 
sion. There is one class whose names I have 
not mentioned, and that is the deserters. Out 
of some two hundred and twenty-two deserters 
only about fifty belonged to the original volun- 
teers. The rest were substitutes, bounty jump- 
ers from Philadelphia, who enlisted mostly 
under fictitious names and whose history, 
therefore it is unnnecessary to publish.* I 
have taken occasion elsewhere to except that 
portion of the substitutes and drafted men who 
still remain with the regiment, from any im- 
plied censure by being unfortunate enough to 
have been associated w^ith those professional 
deserters. In many respects a man who goes 
as a paid substitute for another, and does it in 
good faith, is as good as a volunteer; for he 
volunteers to go for a man vho is afraid to go 
himself. Undoubtedly more credit attaches to 
a man who, obeying his patriotic impulses, 
goes forth at once, without the expectation or 
care of a reward, to defend his country when 
it is in danger. But the paid substitute who 
rem;iins true to his duty, should be exempted 
from all obloquy on account of his hire, and 
should receive his just share of praise for hav- 
ing helped to fight the war to a successful 
close. 

Over the great mistake of the fifty volunteers 
who deserted the ranks of the Eighty-Third, I 
choose to draw the veil of charity; and the veil 
of charity, in this instance, shall be the veil 
of oblivi(")n. Many of tlaem have friends and 

*II is probable that a number of names are yet to 
be toil Lid, in ihe rolls at, the end ot ihe volume, ot 
men who are deserters but were not soaecouuted 
loi en the Muster-Ont lloMs. I shall endeavor to 
liuMt liieiUHll up and exoel them Iroin the Koll of 
ilouor belore it goes to press. 



EirjUty-Third Eegirtipnt, P. V. 



1!) 



relatives in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and I 
do not wish to make tiieni a standing reproac^h 
to their families liy puiilishing their history in 
connection with llie true men f)t' tiie regimeiU 
But better had it been for tliem ii;id they fallen 
in battle and been niiml)ered among ilie glo- 
rious dead of the Eighty-Third : for now shall 
their memories perish and go ilown to oblivion, 
while a future generation shall rear obelisks 
and monuments to the menitries of those fallen 
heroe-, and shall inscribe their names upon 
them in characters that shall last for ages. But 
I would not willingly deprive them of all mer- 
it whatever. They have, at least, the credit 
of having volunteered, like the rest, from pat- 
riotic motives; but they became weak in the 
knees and their valor, like that of Bob Acres, 
oozed out at the palms of their hands, and un- 
der the impulses of this weakness they took 
a step which has consigned them to oblivion. 
Some of them had done good servic3 and had 



been wounded in battle; and bad they remain- 
ed true to their duly their names would have 
been inscribed upon the roll of lionor which 
this little book will carry to the hearth-stone of 
every family of Northwestern Pennsylvania. 
The time is not yet come when the true charac- 
ter of the scirvices and siifferings of ihe men of 
Eighty-Third can be justly realized. But in a 
low years more, when time shall have softened 
down thesiern fiicts of to-day into the real ro- 
mance of the past, and poetry shall have 
thrown her glorious tints over the adventures, 
tlie marches, the battles and triumphs of the 
Eighty-Third; when a new generation, unac- 
customed to the din and clangor of arms, shall 
have arisen to ponder over the deeds of these 
heroes of Thirty Battle Fields : Then wii.Tj he 
THE time! And when that time comes, proud 
— proud shall be the m tn who, knowing that 
he has done his duty, can say, " I have been 

A SOI^niER OK THE EIGITTV-THIRD !" 



Jiidson's History. 



21 



CHAPTER I. 



MeLane's Erie Regiment. Its organization at Camp Wayne. Departure for Pittsburgh. Our 
Arrival. Gamp Wilkins and Camp Wright. Incidents. Our return to Erie. 



In the year of our Lord, one thousand eight 
hundred and sixty-one, in the month of April, 
and on the 12th day of the same, the traitors at 
Charleston, who had so long been plotting the 
overthrow of the government, opened their 
guns upon the garrison at Fort Sumpter, and 
iu forty-eight hours the flag of our country 
was trailing in the dust and trodden beneath 
the feet of those parricides. No sooner had the 
roar of their cannon echoed among the hills 
of the North and along the shores of Lake 
Erie, and the President had issued his procla- 
mation, calling for seventy-ttve thousand vol- 
unteers, than that old war-horse of North- 
western Pennsylvania,Capt. John W. McLane, 
issued his proclamation, culling upon the young 
men of the Lake country to rally to the sup- 
port of our country and its flag. A few days 
before this, he had been summoned to Harris- 
burgh and oflered the office of Commissary 
General by the Governor of Pennsylvania. 
This offer he declined, saying that a lame man 
could perform the duties of that office : he was 
well and would go to the field. 

Having accepted, however, the commission 
of Colonel, with authority to raise and recruit 
a regiment for active service, he hastened back 
to Erie and immediately issued his call. This 
took place on the 21st of April. In four days 
from that time twelve hundred strong had 
poured down from the hills of Erie, Crawford 
and Warren, into the city of Erie, and on 
every side was seen the hurrying to and fro, 
and heard the busy note and preparation of 
war. Old Waterford, which has never to this 
day suffered the stain of a draft to fall upon 
her name, sent forward one hundred and forty 
strong, all armed, under the command of Capt. 
John A. Austin. Girard came down with one 
hundred and thirty-five under the command of 
Capt. D. W. Hutchinson. Union sent out a 
hundred men commanded by Capt. John 
Landsrath. Ferguson of Fairview and Whit- 
ney of Warren, each led into camp a splendid 
company. Eastern and Western Crawford 
were both represented by as fine a body of men 
as ever shouldered a musket, led on by Morgan 
and Dunn. The Wayne Guards of Erie, who 
had been organized and drilled by Captain, 
now Col. John W. McLane, were recruited to 
three full companies under the commands of 
Brown, Graham and Austin. To complete the 
list, the Reed Guards, under Capt. John Kill- 
patrick, and a German Compnny under Capt. 
Frank Wagner marched into camp : and when 
the host, twelve hundred strong, were all as- 
sembled. Col. Mcl.ane telegraphed toCJovernor 
Curtin, for permission to lead on the whole 
number. He was ordered to accept only ten 
companies of eighty men each ; and, greatly to 



their disappointment, four hundred eager men 
were obliged to return to their homes because 
the Governor could not accept of their services. 
Among these who returned were the com- 
panies of Ferguson and Whitney. The remain- 
ing companies were lettered and commanded 
as follows : 



Capt. Thos A. Austin, 
" Hiram L. Brown, 
.Tohn Graham, 
Jas. L. Dunn. 
John A. Austin, 
C, B. Morgan, 
D W. Hutchinson 
John Landsrath 
Frank Wafjner, 
John Killpatrick. 



Co. A. (Wayne Guards,) 

" B. 

" C. " " 

" D. (Conneautville Rifles,) 

" E. (LeBceuti' Guards,) 

" F. (Tilus villa " ) 

" G. (Girard " ) 

" H. (Parson " ) 

" 1. (German Rifles,) 

" K. (Reed Guards,) 

A spot of ground lor a camp was soon se 
lected in the eastern part of the town and called 
Camp Wayne, in honor of the hero of that 
name. As many tents as could be procured 
were provided for the convenience of the men. 
Sheds were erected for cook houses, and the 
farmers from the surrounding country came 
pouring in with their wagons loaded wfth pro- 
visions for the newly- fledged soldiers, a free 
and generous oflering to their country's gallant 
defenders. Here we learned our rudiments in 
the rugged and arduous duties of a soldier's 
lite. Here we took our first lessons in the 
school of the company, held our first dress 
parades, learned to live upon hard fare and to 
lie upon the cold ground. 

Our patriotic women, in the meantime, were 
not idle. It was determined that the regiment 
should be uniformed in some shape belore 
leaving for the scene of action. The needle and 
the sewing machine were kept busy night and 
day, and before the day of our departure, 
nearly all the companies were clad in a hand- 
so.me uniform, consisting of a blue jacket and 
pants and a shirt of yellow flannel. This suit 
was a sort of compromise between the Zouave 
and the regular uniform, and, though not dur- 
able, it was one of the most singular and 
picturesque that we have seen during the war. 
As we have before stated, McLane had 
already been commissioned Colonel by the 
Governor of Pennsylvania. But as he did not 
wish to command a regiment without a full 
and free expression of its members, a vote was 
taken for that purpose, on the 27th, which re- 
sulted in his unanimous election. At thesame 
time Benjamin Oraut was elected Lieut. 
Colonel without opposition, and Matthias 
Schlaudecker Major. Lieut. Strong Vincent, 
who afterwards played such a glorious part in 
the history of the Eighty-Third, and of the 
Third Brigade, was designated by Col. McLane 
as the Adjutant of the regiment.* 



*For a full list of Field and Staff see Muster Rolls. 



22 



Judfion's History of 



On (be 2Sth Ave were inf'onnally mustered in 
by Lieut. Col. Grant, and on the next, day, in 
the midst of a drenching rain, headed by our 
band,* we marched up Stale street to the depot 
Avhere we took the <".ars tor Pittsburt^h amidst 
the roar of artillery, the waving? of handker- 
chiefs and thi tears and prayers of our friends 
for a safe return. 

On arriving at Pittsburgh, early the next 
morning, we breakfasted at several of the ho- 
tels along the banks of the river, and were then 
marcliedthrougli several oftbeprineipal streets, 
our band playing and our banners Hying, in all 
the pride, tlie pomp and eireumstanoe of 
glorious war. This vas the first regiment that 
had yet entered that city, and the novelty of 
the scene, together with our picturesque uni- 
form and the music of our band attracted 
crowds of lookers-on who followed us in ad- 
miration to our place of rendezvous. We were 
marched up Penu street to the Fair Ground, 
which was now to be turned into a barracks foi 
the uses of war, and, on reaching it, each com- 
pany was at once assigned by Col. McLaue to 
its quarters in sheds that had been used as 
stalls for horses and cattle. Every man set to 
work vigorously, and in a short time, with the 
aid of liammer and nails and a bountiful sup- 
ply of straw, we converted those cattle pens in 
to tolerably comfortable quarters. In a few 
days the people of Pittsburgh and the country 
round about, began to come in, bringing with 
them loads ot provisions, blankets, stockings, 
underclothes and, in short, everything that was 
calculated to add to the comfort and. grati ti ca- 
tion of the regiment. For these kindnesses a 
strong feeling of friendship grew up in the 
breasts of the men of the regiment ; and tliej' 
never wished for anything so lieartily as that 
the enemv should attack the city, even if for no 
other purpose than to give them the opportti- 
nity of proving their gratititde to the people l>y 
showing them how well they would defend it. 

Camp Wilkins was made the rendezvous for 
all volunteers from the western part of Penn- 
sylvania, and Colonel McLane was appointed 
commander of the camp. As independent 
companies came in, they were assigned to their 
different quarters, and as fast as these were 
filled up new quarters were erected for the re- 
ception ol others. A commissary department 
was established, cook houses were built or ap- 
propriated from the buildings belonging to the 
ground, cooks detailed for each company and 
the whole camp tegularly provided with meals 
three times a day. Orders were issued regu- 
lating the hours of mounting guard and of com- 
pany and regimental drill, and something like 
order and military discipline soon established. 
Company drill was held in the morning and 
regimental drill in the afternoon. During the 
latter exercises, especially on Saturday after- 
noons, thousands of people flocked from the 
city and surrounding country to witness our 
evolutions. Battalion drill always wound up 
with a dress parade ; and as ours was the only 
uniformed and organized regiment in camp, 
and was attended by a band, we always had the 
pleasure of attracting the greatest crowd. Dur- 
ing these exercises the most observed of all ob 
servers were the Colonel, the Adjutant and the 
Drum Major. 

We remained at Camp Wilkins about six 
weeks and by that time the enclosure had be- 
come so crowded as to make it impracticable 



♦Mehl's Band. 



to remain there any longer. A new camp had, 
in the meantime, i)een laid out twelve miles' 
further up the Allegheny, at a station on the 
railroad called Hulton. Here comfortable and 
commodious (piarters were erected in an or- 
chard, on the side of a pleasant hill which slojjed 
gradually down to the river's edge. On the 
opi:)osite sliores high ranges of mountains reared 
their rocky summits into the air, and at even- 
tide threw a cool and refreshing shade over the 
waters flowing calmly at their base. Here, at 
sunset, were tlie men accustomed to bathe t ,eir 
limbs and sport away the liours, after having 
undergone the duties of the day beneath the 
scorching suns of the summer solstice. Here, 
along the shores of this picturesque and roman- 
tic river, were we accustomed to ramble and 
think upon our future career of glory, little rea- 
lizing the perils and hardships we .should have 
to undergo in after years, in the duties of the 
arduous profession we had chosen. Olten since, 
in the midst of our perilous campaigns in the 
wilds of Virginia, have we cast back a longing, 
lingering glance, in imagination, to the peace- 
ful scenes around Camp Wright, and wished 
from the depth of our hearts that we could be 
transferred to those tranquil and happy solici- 
tudes once more. 

In about two weeks, after removing to Camp 
Wright, the regiment was supplied with mus- 
kets and we now commenced drilling in the 
manual of arms. This seemed to infuse new 
life into the spirits of the men ; for soldiers are 
nothing without arms. They could now avpear 
at battalion drill and on dress parade to some 
advantage. A system of target firing was com- 
menced, but it never amounted to much as we 
were never well supplied with ammunition. 
It was principally in the manual and in the 
evolutions that Colonel McLane strove to per- 
fect us. Our new parade ground was in a large 
hayfield, down near the shores of thei-iver and 
nearly half a mile from camp. Here, together 
with the other i-egiments which had been or- 
ganized since coming to Camp Wright, did we 
go every afternoon, and, after two hours of bat- 
talion drill, hold our evening dress parades. 
Among all the commanders on that held the 
voice of Colonel McLane could be heard first 
and foremost ; and I still seem to hear the deep, 
powerful commands of our gallant old chief- 
tain, as they echoed and re-echoed among the 
hills on the other side of the river until they 
died away in the distance. 

We had, two or three times, since coming oat, 
received marching orders, and, on each occa- 
sion, had packed up and got everything in readi- 
ness for a movement in the direction of the en- 
emy. But these orders were generally counter- 
manded within the next twenty-four hour.s. 
Two months had passed away, and we had 
not yet been fully armed and equipped. It 
began to grow apparent to every one that we 
were never destined to see any active service, 
and this began to have a slightly damaging ef- 
fect upon the discipline of the men. They had 
come out to fight, not to play the summer sol- 
dier, and they now began to grow discontented 
and to criticise freely the partiality of the Gov- 
ernor for not giving them a chance to meet 
their enemies upon the gory tield of battle. In 
fact, they presented that rare spectacle, so sel- 
dom witnessed now-a-days, of a regiment spoii- 

j for a fight. They had yet received no pay, 
although they had been two months in the 
field and had never yet been mustered into the 
service of the United States ; and this helped to 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



23 



swell the flames of their discontent. In short, 
the complaints of some of the more clamorous 
grew so hit^h that Col. McLane found it necu .- 
sary at last to come down on their calculations 
with a moist blanket. Having ordered the re- 
giment out on battalion drill one hot morning 
in July, he formed it in hollow scjuare, and 
taking his stand on the inside, delivered a short, 
energetic speech in which he gave them to un- 
derstand that he intended to command the re- 
giment; and, as for himself, if the State of Penn- 
sylvania was too poor to piy him, Vie would 
make a free and voluntary gift of his services 
to her. So saying, he reduced square and de- 
ployed column and then put us through about 
three hours of the most animated and perspiring 
drill that we have ever had, before or since. The 
speech and the drill produced the desired effect, 
for at the end of the three hours the starch had 
been so completely taken out of the malcontents 
that not a word of complaint was ever heard 
from one of them afterwards. 

There was one other circumstance took place 
about this time which aided also in restoring 
the regiment to its normal state of mind. Some 
genius, of a romantic and inventive turn, was 
taking his evening ramble along the classic 
shores of the Allegheny, in quest of the beau- 
ties of nature, when his eye fell upon a clam- 
shell which laid imbedded beneath the crystal 
tide, glittering in all the glory of its pearly in- 
candescence. The happy thought struck him 
that from that material he might construct a 
rinf^ to adorn the lily-white linger of his fair 
one at home. Accordingly he set to work with 
file, jack-knife, bayonet and sandstone, and in 
the course of twenty-four hours, had construct- 
ed such a jewel (if I may be allowed to use 
the term) as had never before encircled the fair 
finger of even majesty itself. The news of this 
great disi.-overy spread like wild-fire from man 
to man, from company to company, and from 
regiment to regiment, until the whole camp 
had become tilled with emulation to excel the 
discoverer who had so boldly launched out in- 
to the vast ocean of art and invention. There 
was a simultaneous rush for the river, and the 
clams, God bless them ! were so completely and 
effectually scooped up that there never has been 
a respectable crop since. Then, for the space 
of three weeks, nothing was to be heard in that 
camp of Mars but the concentrated buzz of 
files, saws, bayonets and sandstones, which, as 
it arose upon the stillness of the evening air, 
sounded like the spindles of forty New Eng- 
land factories all joined in one grand universal 
chorus of industry. They stole away fi'om drill, 
they stole away from roll-call, they stole away 
from dress parade; and when detailed for guard 
they were either too sick for duty, or they car- 
ried their darling clam-shells along with them, 
and stood upon their posts, with fixed bayonets 
and inverted muskets, their feet upon their be- 
loved pearls, and making the air hideous with 
squeaking as the remorseless bayonet plowed, 
twisted and crunched its way through their 
very vitals. In a word. Camp Wright had be- 
come transformed into one great, universal 
Ring Factory. Everything else,— their imagin- 
ary grievances, the anticipated joy of battle, the 
return home to be crowned with the laurels of 
victory, — all seemed to have been forgotten. 



Even pay day, which always brings more men 
into line than a battle, had become a myth, a 
mere shadowy reminiscence of the past. In 
vain did you attempt, after the fatigues of the 
day, to catch one grateful moment of balmy 
sleep, tired Nature's sweet restorer : for the 
buzzings and the gratings of those everlasting 
workers still rung upon the ear till nine, ten, 
eleven, and twelve o'clock at night. And it was 
often away up in the wee small hours ere the 
sounds, one by one, would begin to die away, 
like the tones of an Eolian harp whose harmo- 
ny becomes mute only when the playful winds 
have become hushed to rest. As usual with 
the speculative genius of the Yankee nation, 
the manufacture of rings soon became a matter 
of traffic, and the camp became also a grand 
bazaar for their sale and purchase. The greater 
the demand the greater the manufacture. It is 
said that the Carthagenians gathered eighty 
bushels of rings from the fingers of the slaugh- 
tered Roman knights after the battle of Cannse : 
but had the Carthagenians of the South attacked 
and made oue half the slaughter upon our 
camp, they Avould have gathered, in proportion 
to the numbers engaged, even more rings than 
they. 

Here, in this peaceful and happy valley, — 
yes, happier even than the happy valley of 
Rasselas— we whiled away the most tranquil 
period of our soldier life, subject to none of 
those dread alarms which we were destined af- 
terwards to encounter. Comparatively speak- 
ing, we made but little proficiency in the art of 
war ; yet, as the whole nation was at the time 
wholly inexperienced in the duties pertaining 
to the occupation of a soldier, what we gained 
in the three months service was of great bene- 
fit to us when we came to organize and drill the 
men of the Eighty-Third. If we did not acquire 
that thorough system of discipline which the 
Eighty-Third afterwards acquired when they 
had become soldiers in earnest, it was no fault 
of our commander, but was owing to the un- 
settled and uncertain position in which the 
regiment was placed. As a regiment they 
would, beyond all doubt, have fought bravely ; 
being all active and vigorous young men who 
were the very first to volunteer ; for when the 
public safety is in danger, those are the best 
men who stand not upon the order of going, 
but go at once to its defence. Most of them 
again entered the service, some in the Eighty- 
Third, some in the One Hundred and Eleventh, 
some in the One Hundred and Forty-Fifth, and 
in various other regiments, both infantry and 
cavalry. I believe, in fact, that eveiy branch 
of the service, both land and naval, has since 
been represented by the members of this regi- 
ment. 

The period of our term of service had now 
drawn to a close. Paymaster Veech came 
around and paid the regiment for one month 
and seventeen days. In a dayor twoalterwards, 
we took our departure for" Erie, and arrived 
there on Saturday night, the day before the 
battle of Bull Run. Although we had seen no 
active service and had not returned covered 
with the laurels of war, yet ti:e people of Erie 
received us with all the honors that are usually 
awarded to the heroes of a hundred liattle- 
fields. 



24 



Judson's Hist or ;( of 



CHAPTER II. 



Colonel McLane issues another call for volunteers. Oryanization of the Eigh'y- Third at Catnp 
McLane. Departure for and arrival at Washington. Encanvped on Meridian Hill. Grossing 
of Long Bridge and arrival at Hall's Hill. Our dicipline. A grand camp festival. In 
winter quarters. 



Col. McLane had expressed his intention, 
even before returning home, of going immedi- 
ately to work and raising a three j^ears' regi- 
ment for the service. The news of the disas- 
trous battle of Bull Run alarmed and aroused 
the nation and the warlike spirits of the people 
were again on tire. The Colonel at once tele- 
graphed to Mr. Cameron, the Secretary of War, 
for authority to raise another regiment for ac- 
tive service, and on the 24th of July he received 
the order. He at once sent handbills through- 
out the northwestern counties of Pennsylvania, 
calling for a thousand active and able-bodied 
men, and the officers and soldiers of the old re- 
giment forthwith commenced recruiting. The 
Fair Ground, a few miles from Erie, was se- 
lected for a camp of rendezvous, and called 
Camp McLane. Nearly three hundred of the 
old regiment re-enlisted for the new one. Vol- 
unteers did not respond so readily as they did 
at the first call, but, nevertheless, in five weeks 
nearly a thousand men from the counties of 
Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango and Mercer 
had assembled in camp. On the 8th of Septem- 
ber the last company was mustered in : and on 
the same day the whole regiment was drawn 
up in line, and, together with Col. McLane and 
Major Strong Vincent, was formally mustered 
into the service of the United States by Capt. 
Bell of the Regular Army. From this to the 
day of our departure the time was busily spent 
in drilling and recruiting the regiment up to 
its maximum number. On the 16th we left for 
Washington, amidst a large crowd of people 
who cheered us as the train slowly moved 
away.* 

On the evening of the 20th we arrived 
at Washington, and, after having partaken 
of refreshments at the Soldiers' Rest, we 
marched to Meridian Hill. Major Vincent had 
gone on to Washington before us and provided 
tents and blankets for our reception ; and here, 
beneath the clear rays of a midnight moon, 
with the great dome of the Capitol looming up 
grandly in the distance, we spread our tents 
upon the ground and made our first bivouack 
upon the soil of Maryland. 

We lay at Meridian Bill a week, and during 
that time the men were uniformed and were 
armed with the old Harper's P"'errv muskets. 
These were exchanged lor the new SpringfieM 
muskels, a lew weeks afier arriving wt Hall's 
Hill. An election was also held tor field otti 



••■•Metirs Band jilso aicoiupaiiierl ilie resimenl. 
haviUK been nnulH up oi" new men, .ind piilistoii, 
like the soliiic rs, ('.>r ttiron yeiirs. 'Pliey were ail 
mustered out by General Orders in August, iblia. 



cers, and Major Strong Vincent was elected 
Lieut. Colonel, and Dr. Louis Naghel, of In- 
diana, Major. Our regular exercises in com- 
pany drill were kept up, as they had been at 
Camp McLane ; and on the 1st of October, after 
dark, we crossed over the Long Bridge to Ar- 
lington Heights, and. on this cool, frosty night, 
we bivouacked for the first time upon the sacred 
soil of Virginia. We staid here a day or two 
and then moved to Ball's Hill where we were 
brigaded and joined to Gen. Fitz- John Porter's 
Division. 

Porter's Division was at that title being or- 
ganized. The First Brigade, under Gen. Mar- 
tindale, was encamped on Hall's Hill proper, 
about half a mile to our front. The Second 
Brigade, under Gen. Morell, was encamped at 
Miner's Hill, two miles beyond, and the Third 
Brigade, under the command of Brig, Gen. 
Daniel Butterfield, was encamped on Hall's 
farm. The following comprises a list of the 
Brigades and Regiments, together with the 
names of their commanders, which at that time 
belonged to Porter's Division : 

FIRST BRIGADE.— GEN. MABTINDALK. 

Second Maine, Col. Roberts. 
Eighteenth Mass., Col. Barnes. 
Twenty-Second Mass., Col. Gove. 
Twenty-Fiftb, N. Y., Col. Kerrigan. 

SECOND BRIGADE,— GEN. MORELL,. 

Fourth Mioh., Col. Woodbury. 
Fourteenth N. Y., Col. McQuade. 
Sixty-Second Penna., Col. aam Black. 
Ninth Mass., Col. Cass. 

THIRD BRIGADE,— GEN. BUTTERFIELiD. 

Seventeenth N. Y., Col. Lansing. 
Sixteenth Mich., Col. Stoclitou. 
Forty-Fourtli N. Y., Col. Strylier. 
Eighty-Tliird Penna., Col. McLane. 

Besides these regiments of infantry there 
were three batteries of artillery — Griffin's, Mar- 
tin's and Weedin's, and the cavalry regiment 
of Colonel Averill. The whole numbered 
about sixteen thousand strong. It may be 
proper here to add, that at that time the whole 
army was organized by divisions of three 
brigades each, with their complement of bat- 
teries and regiments of cayalry ; and thatthe.se 
divisions were encamped in the order of battle, 
in front of tlie defenses of Washington, on a 
Ime extending from Chain Bridge on the right 
to below Alexandria on the left. McCall's Di- 
vision of Pennsylvania Reserves wereencamped 
iuriher up on the Maryland side of the Poto- 
mac, while Hooker's Division occupied the 
-^anie side of Ihe river a few miles below Alex- 
andria. 1 he organization of the Army into 
Corps of three divisions each was ordered by 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



25 



the President, during the early part of March 
1862, aboutthetime thatwe were marchingupon 
Manassas ; but it was not practically effected 
until the next May or June. 

The Third Brigade was encamped as I have 
stated, on Hall's Farm, half a mile to the rear 
of the First Brigade. The Seventeenth occu- 
pied the right, the Sixteentb the left, the Forty- 
Fourth the right centre and the Eighty-Third 
the left centre of the brigade. On a bill, be- 
tween the Seventeenth and Forty- Fourth, were 
the head quarters of Generals Porter, Martin- 
dale and Butterfield. The camp of each regi 
ment was laid out, in regular military style, 
into company streets and the tents pitched in 
line. For a better explanation of the compa- 
nies composing the regiment, with their letters, 
commanders and places of enlistment, the fol- 
lowing list is given in the order of seniority, 
with their respective dates of muster: 



A. 


(Titusville,) Capt. 


Morgan, Aug. 


21st, 


B. 


(Meadville,) 


Morris. 


25tli, 


E. 


(Waterfmd,) " 


Campbell, " 


26th, 


D. 


(Edinboro.) " 


Woodward, " 


2fith, 


I. 


(Erie.) 


Brown, " 


27th, 


F. 


(Mtadville,) " 


McCoy, Sept. 


3d, 


H. 


(Conneautville,) " 


Carpenter, " 


6th, 


G. 


(Tiimesta,) " 


Knox, 


6th, 


C. 


(Erie,) 


Graham, " 


8th, 


K. 


(Erie,) 


Austin, '• 


8tb, 



No one of these companies was recruited 
wholly at the places to which they are credited 
in the above list. Company H. was composed 
largely of men from Girard, and the Erie com- 
panies were made up of members Irom different 
portions of the several counties. But as the 
military history of each man will be given at 
the end of the volume, it is unnecessarj^ to 
make any further explanations upon this 
point. 

We now commenced the work of soldiering 
in good earnest. At Camp Wright we had 
never been mustered into the service of tfie 
United States, had never been brigaded nor 
subjected to those arbitrarj' regulations which 
must necessarily prevail in a regularly organ- 
ized army. Butterfield was a strict disciplina- 
rian and an excellent tactician in the evolutions 
of the line. Orders were issued i-egulating the 
hours of reveille, tattoo, the roll and all inter- 
mediate calls and we were compelled to most 
rigidly observe them. Company and regi- 
mental drills were held every day and brigade 
drills three times a week. The soldiers were 
carefully instructed in the manual of arms and 
in the exercises of the bayonet. Guard mount- 
ing was conducted with a precision and con- 
formity to army regulations which we had 
never before known. The men were instructed 
in all the duties of sentinels, to patrol their beats 
to salute their superior officers, to turn out at 
the approach of a general ofticer, and to pre- 
serve and demand the countersign at night. 
Weekly and monthly inspections of arms, ac- 
coutrements, and clothing were made, and the 
men required to keep them clean and in good 
Older. A system of target firing was estab- 
lished, in which the best shots were noted and 
publicly acknowledged in general orders read 
before the regiment. Kegular details for pick- 
et were made, and the men soon became profi- 
cient in all the requirements of outpost duty. 
In our brigade drills we were practiced in all 
the evolutions of the line, in the firings and in 
numerous sham battles. Frequent reviews 
were held, in which our proficiency in march- 
ing and in soldierly bearing was noticed and 
frequently commended. Alarms of the approach 
the enemy were occasionally given, on the 



strength of which we were ordered to supply 
ourselves with three days' cooked rations and 
to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a mo- 
ment's notice ; all for the purpose of practicing 
us in the school of the soldier. The officers were 
required to apply themselves to the study of the 
book of tactics, and were daily questioned and 
examined in the same until they had become 
well versed in the manual of arms and in all the 
movements of company, battalion, and brigade 
drill. Occasionally they were removed to the 
headquarters of Gen. Butterfield, and their 
skill put to to the test in guessing distances, in 
order to perfect them in ttie art of calculating 
the probable range of shot from a given point. 
Court martials were established, before m hich 
offenders against the military law were 
promptly tried and punished as an example 
against all future breaches of good order and 
military discipline. Under these strict but 
salutary regulations all those symptoms of in- 
subordination and inattention to duty, so 
common among soldiers without discipline, 
were effectually squelched, even before they 
had time to appear upon the surface ; and the 
good habits and soldierly bearing of the men 
soon became conspicuous and rem;i rked. On 
dress parade they presented a splendid appear- 
ance. It was on one of these occasions that 
Gen. McClellan, on passing along the lines 
with his staff, rode up to Col. McLane and said, 
" Colonel, I congratulate you on having one of 
the very best regiments in the army !" 

In fact the Eighty-Third became so noted 
for their proficiency and strict attendance upon 
drill as to become the subject of a commenda- 
tory order from Gen. Butterfield. "The Gen- 
eral commanding," said the order, "feels called 
upon to congratulate and commend the Fighty- 
Third for the very general spirit of attention 
to duty that seems to pervade the regiment. 
Their attention to drill is especially recom- 
mended as a worthy example to the rest of the 
brigade." The order went on to state that the 
average percentage of their attendance at all 
drills, parades, and roll-calls, amounted to 
seventy-two, while the highest percentage of 
any other regiment of the brigade did not 
amount to over fifty-eight. 

For this proficiency in drill and attention to 
duties generally it was determined by Gen. 
Porter that the regiment should be presented 
with an entire outfit of one of the new uni- 
forms which had been imported from France. 
This outfit was the most complete that had 
ever been worn by an American soldier; and 
although i;:ost of them proved, upon trial, to 
be too small for the men, and by no means 
productive of their personal comfort, yet they 
were at once picturesque and attractive in ap- 
pearance. The uniform was that ol the Chas- 
seur cle Vincennes, consisting of a shako, two 
JHunty, tasteful suits, dress and fatigue, with 
cloak, two pairs of shoes, two pairs of white 
gloves, two night-caps, gaiters, sac le petite, 
containing five brushes for various purposes, 
needle case, with combs, thread, spool, cloak 
pin, and variouis other conveniences. Each 
officer wa< supplied with a small tent and each 
soldier with a fragment of one styled tents 
d'abri, susceptible of being instantly spliced 
to those of his companions by buttonlne. For 
the purpose of giving the reader a better idea 
of the completeness of this outfit, I give below 
a list of all the articles that were issued to the 
men : 



26 



Judson's History of 



Large Council Tent, with Tables and fixtures,... 1 

Coirimou Tents, lor men and ofHcers 110 

Circular Tables, 220 

Ambulance, or Hospital Tent, with Tables, &c. 3 

Men's small Tents, for special duty 1,000 

OfHcers' Tents, " " " 10 

Company Tents 10 

Mallets, for driving Tent Pins 2-50 

Picks 2.50 

Hatchets 100 

Shovels 22.5 

Dres.s Coats 1,000 

Fatigue Coals 1,000 

Pautaloous 1,000 

Cloaks, or Mantles, with Hoods 1,000 

Shirts 3,(100 

Drawers 2,000 

Dress Caps (Shakos) of Leather 1,000 

Plumes for ditto I,0ii0 

Fatigue Caps 1,000 

Slioes. pairs 2,(i00 

Leather Gaiters, pairs 1,000 

Linen Gaiters 2,000 

Leggings, pairs 1,000 

Epaulets l.oOO 

Nightcaps 2,000 

Neckties 2,(i0i) 

Handkerchiefs 2,000 

White Cotton Gloves, pairs , 2,000 

Suspenders, pairs 1,()00 

AVoolen Blankets 1,000 

Knapsacks, hair tanned leather 1,000 

Haversacks 1,000 

Large Tin Water Canteens (Bidons) 100 

Small Canteens 1,000 

Straps for " 1,(H)0 

Large Tin Mess Kettles 100 

Tin Soup Bowls, with lids. 1,000 

Tin Cups 1,000 

Cartridge Boxes 1,0 

Sword Belts 1,0 

Tin Saucepans..... lOJ 

Chevrons, gold and silver embroidered for non 

commissioned officers 1.50 

Pack Saddles .S.5 

Cacolets for ditto 100 

Mule Litters 2 

Camp Stools 1.50 

Medicine Chest tilled vvitli medicines 1 

Surgical ("'best, filled with instruments 1 

Ambulance Knapsacks, containing knives, 
saws, bandages, lints, <fec., for surgical ope- 
rations 2 

Bugles 22 

Mule Bridles .3-5 

Sacs du Petit, or Small Sacks containing Shoe 

Brushe-i 1,<'00 

Clothes, ditto 1,000 

Hair ditto 1,000 

Button ditto l,Ot)0 

Brushes for cleaning guns 1,000 

Small Oil Cans 1,00' 

Tin Boxes, for Polishing Powders, &c 1,0 <• 

Dusters for the Clothes 1,'iOO 

Besides 1,000 needle books, each containing 
one pair scissors, thimble, three colors thread, 
spool for the thread, saddlers' awl, needles, 
combs, &c. 

Towards the latter part of December we be- 
gan to ornament and beautify our camp, and 
to make preparations for a grand camp festival 
to be held on New Year's Eve. The company 
streets and the avenue leading to the Colonel's 
quarters were all carefully turnpiked, and the 
companies marched backward and forward 
over them in order to smooth and pack them 
down. Sidewalks were laid out in front of the 
company quarters and adorned with small 
pines and cedars. Magnificent arches of ever- 
green were erected at the entrances of the 
streets, and everything done to render the 
camp at once attractive and agreeable. Just at 
that time we bad enjoyed an uninterrupted 
season of warm, dry weather for a number of 
days, and, at night, as the moon shone down 
resplendently upon our camp, it brought to 



mind some oftho.se enchanting scenes of which 
we read in Spen.ser's Faerie Queen. The head- 
quarters of the regiment were also tastefully 
decorated with an enclosure and with arches 
and gateways of evergreens ; and as we walked 
the streets of our little city at night bathed, as 
it Avere, in the soft rays of the moon, it awoke 
poetic visions of peace and happiness rather 
than of war and bloodshed. On the night of 
the Festival, when brightly illuminated, the 
effect was beyond de.scription. "The camp," 
said the correspondent of a Washington paper 
" presented an appearance the most unique 
and fascinating imaginable, giving the effect at 
a little distance, of a fairy glen, rather than the 
stern and almost forbidding aspect of an ordi- 
nary military encampment. Chine.se lanterns, 
of various graceful forms, in color a predomi- 
nant mingling of red, white, and blue, with 
the stars of our nationality proudly shining, 
sus'pended amont; the groves and festooned 
gateways of evergreen, brilliantly illuminated 
the camp, which was jocund with the holiday 
mirth of a regiment holding an unaccustomed 
jubilee !" 

" But the grand disolay was found inside of a 
huge tent, T shaped — one wing a dancing hall, 
floored and carpeted with canvass ; the other 
with a table set and loaded with delicacies. It 
is difficult to do justice to this scene of en- 
chantment. The whole tent was profusely dec- 
orated with branches and sprigs of cedar. 
Chandeliers of bayonets, forming sockets for 
as many candles, eacb circle apparently hoops 
of different sizes captured from some lady's 
dress and handsomely wound with tissue pa- 
per, were unapproachable in their effect. The 
beautiful flags of the Eigbty-Third and the 
Fortv-Fourth were joined in loving embrace, 
with the other fl.dgs of the brigade to enhance 
the display. The tout ensemble of the whole 
atfair was military and magnificent. At the 
supper were accommodated nearly two hun- 
dred guests, with provisions enough for five 
hundred. 

" The band which furnished music for the 
dance was that of the Forty-Fourth Xew York. 
The music was superb, as all will believe who 
know the band. There is a feeling of unusual 
cordiality existing between these two regi- 
ments, and an insult to either would be in- 
stantly taken up 'oy the other as if done to 
itself." 

Such was the scene of enchantment presented 
on the night of our New Year's Festival. The 
weather was then warm and pleasant, the skies 
wei-e clear and balmy, and the mooa shone 
down biilliantly. But lo! what a scene of 
havoc was presented a few days afier. Storms 
of rain, .sleet, and snow, and tornadoes of wind 
passed over our little " Fairy Glen," and down 
came our magnificent arches, our festooned 
gateways and rows of shade trees, and the 
streets were deluged with water and niud. 
The winter had now, for the first time, fairly 
set in. The camp looked a:l the more dreary 
and forbidding for having once looked so attrac- 
tive and enchanting. For weeks the snows 
covered the face of the earth. Drills were sus- 
pended, and the only comfort the soldiers could 
find was in hugging the firesides within their 
tents, smoking their pipes, and ()laying at their 
favorite games of euchre, cribbage, and old 
sledge. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



27 



CHAPTER III. 



The approach of Spring. The Army in motion toivards Manassas. Arrival at Fairfax Court 
House. EvacKation of Mandssas. JReturn to Alexandria. Embarkation and Voyage doini 
the Potomac. Arrival in HamjUon Roads. The landing o,t Hampton village. In camp. 



Winter at last broke away and Spring opened 
upon us. The time was now approaching 
when we would be called upon to put in prac- 
tice the precepts we had learned, and to test the 
efficiency of the discipline we had received. 
We had "completed the period of our probation, 
and were now to be received into full commu- 
nion in the church militant and baptized in the 
blood of our enemies ; aye, and in our own too. 
The long-expected and long-talked of move- 
ment of the Army of the Potomac, was about 
to commence. On the night of the 9th ol 
March we received orders to be in readiness to 
move on the coming morrow. All was bustle 
and preparation in camp. All superfluous 
trumpery, trunks and baggage, all unnecessary 
clothing, including the Frencjh uniform, had 
been previously packed up, sent to Georgetown, 
and stowed away in government warehouses. 
Three days' rations were now to be cooked and 
stowed away in our haversacks. There was 
but little repose during the reniiiinder of that 
night. On the morning of the 10th, s»t an early 
hour, the reveille was sounded. A hasty 
breakfast was prepared and eaten ; and ere the 
morning had worn away the vast folds of the 
"McClellan anaconda" began to uncoil them- 
selves and move slowly along in the direction 
of Manassas. The whole army moved at the 
same time and upon different roads. Towards 
sundown we arrived at Fairfax Court House 
and halted. We had been there but a short 
time when the intelligence spread throughout 
the army that the enemy had evacuated the 
strongholds of Centreville and Manassas, and 
fallen back upon Gordonsville. To us it was a 
victory, and it had been gained without a blow. 
In consequence of this news the army was 
drawn up to receive Gen. McClellan on his re- 
turn from the front ; and as he rode along the 
lines, loud and repeated cheers burst forth 
from the Union hosts, indicating their joy at 
this their first triumph as well as their confi- 
dence in the strategy of their young command- 
er. We then marched back Avith music play- 
ing, drums beating, and colors flying, to our 
camping ground, and pitched our tents for the 
night. 

We remained at Fairfax until the 15th. In 
the meantime preparations were made for 
transporting the army down the Potomac to 
Fortress Monroe ; for it seems to have been 
McClellan's original intention to operate 
against Richmond by way of the Peninsula, 
and to make some point on either the York or 
the James River his base of operations. Du- 
ring this interval we examined the rebel forti- 
fications around Fairfax, Centreville, and Man- 
assas, As Fairfax was but an advance post, 
the works were not of so formidable a character 



but that they might have been carried by a 
well directed assault, even with a respectable 
force behind them. The works at Manassas 
were more numerous and much stronger, but 
not half so strong as we had expected to find 
them. But the most formidable of all were 
those at Centreville, seven miles beyond Fair- 
tax Court House. Here along the brow of the 
hill over which that dingy little village strag- 
gled, was drawn a strong line of breastworks, 
two rows deep in some places, the interior line 
reveled, stretching away several miles to- 
wards the North, and flanked at intervals by 
heavily bastioned forts, compactly built, and 
seemingly impregnable to an assault. Two 
foris commanded the approach over the Fair- 
tax road, and an assaulting column would have 
been compelled to charge up this long open 
hill under a furious cross fire of grape, cannis- 
ter, and musketry. Centreville and Manassas 
may be said to have been the centre of their 
general line of defences, stretching from Ball's 
Bluff on the Potomac, north of Washington, to 
the Occoquan emptying into the Potomac, on 
the south side of it. At Leesburg, where their 
left wing rested, they had built numerous 
strong forts commanding the approaches from 
Washington, and it was with this wing of 
their army that occurred the affair at Ball's 
Bluff on the twenty-first of October 1861 ; 
while their attem]3ted blockade of the Potomac, 
during the same year, was made imder cover 
of their forces stationed in the vicinity of the 
Occoquan. It will thus be seen that the rebel 
forces in front of Washington, described a 
quarter circle from one bend of the river to the 
other, comprising a chain of communications 
and defences at least fifty miles in length and 
closing all advances into Virginia by any other 
except an equally appointed or superior force. 

Whilst we had sate during the winter at 
Hall's Hill, shivering in our tents of cloth, ex- 
pecting every week to move upon Manassas, 
the more wise rebels had erected commodious 
and comfortable log houses and snugly quar- 
tered themselves within them, without any in- 
tention whatever of engaging in that popular 
delusion of the day, a winter campaign in 
Northern "Virginia, These log encampments 
extended from Centreville to Manassas, where 
the main body of their army lay ; and, judg- 
ing from the number we saw remaining, I 
should estimate their strength in those vicini- 
ties to have been not much inferior in numbers 
to our own. 

On the morning of the fifteenth, in the midst 
of a drenching rain, we marched back towards 
Alexandria for the purpose of taking trans- 
ports down the Potomac, We halted about 
dark, and went into the camp which had been 



28 



Judson's History of 



occupied during the winter 'oy the Irish Brig- 
ade. This was onr tir>.t iiiaich nud bivouac in 
the rain, and, at that early period of our expe- 
rience in the profession of nrms, the trial was a 
severe one. The tents, which had been left 
standing, were tilled with all the refuse swept 
down by the scavenger rain from the hills 
above. No wood was to be had, except the few 
fagots which had been gleaned up here and 
there in the dark ; and we were compelled to 
cook our suppers, dry our soused garments, 
and make our beds in the midst of great green 
filthy sloshes of water. The next day we 
moved further on and pitched our tents on the 
side of a hill, near Alexandria. Here we re- 
mained until the twenty-second, awaiting 
transports. On the morning of that day the 
Eighty-Third embarked on board of the Sea 
Shore and one other steamer, and, on the after- 



noon of the next day, anchored in Hampton 
Koads, under the frowning battlements of For- 
tress Monroe. On the afternoon of the twenty- 
fourih, we landed at the deserted villa'ge of 
Hamilton, marched a mile into the country 
and encamped for the night. 

The next morning we moved out to New- 
market Bridge, on the Yorktown road, where 
the brigade went into camp. It pleased the 
brigade or division authorities, for some pur- 
pose that was to us inscrutable, unless it was 
for the purpose of concealment, to locate this 
camp in a swijmp. While there we had the 
pleasure of being drowned out, once or twice, 
by heavy showers of rain. We dwelt in this 
sylvan abode about a week, when we were 
c died upon to undertake an enterprise of pith 
and daring, a full account of which will be 
found in the next chapter. 



Eighty-Third Eegiment, P. V. 



29 



CHAPTER U, 



Reconnoisance to Big Bethel. Terrible charge of the Eighty-third, in tvhich nobody got hurt. 



It was on a bright, beautiful morning in the 
latter part of the montli of March, that we 
startec], with one days' rations in our haver- 
sacks, towards Big Bethel. It was not known 
exactly for what purpose we were going, but as 
fighting is the business of a soldier's life, it was 
supposed that lighting was the object. In those 
dense forests and impenetrable swamps before 
us, all was an unknown region ; and it ap- 
peared afterwards that it was also unknown to 
our commanding Genex-als. We knew that a 
force of the enemy under Magruder were en- 
trenched at Yorktown, some twenty-five miles 
distant, and it was reasonable to suppose that he 
had outposts far in advance of his main force. 
Big Bethel was one of these outposts. There 
they had thrown up earthworks the year before, 
commanding the Yorktown road, and there 
had occurred that ill-omened battle which ex- 
alted the bravery of the rebels so much in their 
own eyes. It transpired afterwards that this 
expedition of ours was part of a general recon- 
noissance made by several detachments of the 
army, by order of General McClellan, for the 
purpose of ascertaining the position and where- 
abouts of the enemy, preparatory to a general 
advance up the Peninsula. Our brigade was 
under arms early in the morning and, at about 
eight o'clock, we started off with colors flying. 
After marching a few miles w^e were halted in 
the road, brought to a front and ordered to load. 
This began to look like a fight. After a short 
rest we again pushed forward. Flankers were 
thrown out and every precaution taken to pre- 
vent a surprise on either side. Expectations of 
a sharp fight and hopes of a brilliant victory 
ran high in the regiment. We were told that 
we must plant the banner of the Eighty-Third 
upon the court-house of Big Bethel ; and there 
was some discussion arose among several aspi- 
rants after military fame, to know who should 
have that distinguished honor. To plant the 
colors of a victorious army upon the ramparts 
of a surrendered fortress, upon the 8tate House 
of a fallen capital, or upon the Court House of a 
captured countv seat, properly and distinctly 
belongs to the color bearer ; but on this occasion 
there were emulative spirits enough in the regi- 
ment to wrest this honor from the color bearer 
and reap all the glory of the deed themselves. 
On our march but few houses or inhabitants 
were to be seen. The ruins of a number of 
dwellings said to have been burned by order of 
Magruder, remained, but the inbabitants were 
gone. From our camp to Big Bethel the dis- 
tance was nearly twelve miles ; and as the sun 
approached the meridian the weather became 
intensely hot. About noon we debouched into 
the open fields in the neighborhood of Big Be- 
thel, where the enemy were supposed to lay 
entrenched ready to open a murderous fire 



upon our advancing columns. Suddenly we 
received orders to form line of battle. The 
Sixteenth Michigan and Seventeenth New 
York, which were in the advance, wereali-eady 
seen drawn up in line marching to the front, 
and this quickened our apprehensions that an 
awful conflict was at hand. The Eighty-Third 
were ordered to form line on the left of these 
two regiments, and the Forty-Fourth on the 
left of us. In order to get into position we had 
to march by the flank into a thick body of 
woods, full of swamps and underbrush. Into 
the woods we went pell mell, on a double 
quick, o'er bush, o'er brier, o'er bog, o'er 
brake, where having changed front forward on 
first company, we swiftly formed in the ranks 
of war. All was now bustle and excitement in 
the Eighty-Third. The field officers of the 
regiment hurried to and fro, with revolvers in 
their hands, hurrying forward both officers 
and men. Having at fast formed line of battle 
we told the men that the eyes of the world 
were tipon them and exhorted them to do their 
whole duty in this their first battle, and not to 
disappoint the high expectations that had been 
formed of them at home. Then, with sabres 
drawn and bayonets fixed, with our hearts in 
our throats and with the King of Terrors sta- 
ring us in the face, we commended ourselves 
to the God of Battles and rushed forward. We 
cleared the woods — we gained the opening — the 
line of terrible breastwoi'ks burst upon our 
sight — when with a yell and a double quick we 
charged across the plain, and on arriving at the 
works, found not a single rebel behind them. 

Some affirm that while we were getting into 
line for a charge, musket firing was heard at 
the front, and it was supposed that the troops 
on the right of the brigade were engaged with 
the enemy. The fact seems to have been that 
there was a small detachment of cavalry sta- 
tioned there, who fired a few shots and then 
fled at our approach. There were several small 
works thrown up for batteries, and a line of 
rifle pits which commanded the road, but they 
were not manned. Our color bearer, Sergeant 
McKinley, then went forward and planted the 
banner of the Eighty-Third upon the captured 
works. We found in the woods, to the rear of 
the rear of the works, a number of shelters 
constructed of boughs, which were tired and 
consumed. No Court House, however, nor any 
other house was to be seen, and what was call- 
ed Big Bethel was nothing more than an old 
wooden church of that name. 

Thus ended the first battle of the Eighty- 
Third, in which nobody got hurt, except such 
as were badly scratched among the briers 
while forming' for the charge. We rested upon 
the battle ground for halt an hour and then 
continued our reconnoisance towards the left 



30 



Judson's History of 



in the direction of the Warwick road. Captain 
Brown's men were thrown out as skirmishers 
on the right flank of the column, and were 
compelled to march most of the way through a 
swamp. Beyond this swamp, further to the 
front, the lebels had thrown up other works 
and had stationed a picket line connecting with 
the one at Big Bethel. Merwin and Laport, 
two members of Company I, advanced clear 
across this swamp and through the woods for 
a considerable distance beyond, to the works, 
and came upon a rebel officer calling in his 
pickets. Merwin cocked his gun to fire, but 
Laport checked him, saying that they would 



capture him as soon as he rode up to a house 
which was but a few yards distant from them. 
The people at the house, however, sounded the 
alarm, and the next thing they saw of the 
rebel officer he was putting spurs to his horse 
and galloping away in the opposite direction. 
One of the men fired but missed his mark, and 
this was the only shot fired by any of the regi- 
ment during the day. The brigade continued 
its reconnoisance for two or three miles to the 
left and having met with no enemy, halted an 
hour for lunch, and then started back for their 
old camp in the Slough of Despond. 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



31 



CHAPTER V. 



The march to Yorktown. Seige and evamation of the place. Incidents of the seige. 



On the 2d of April General McClellan 
arrived at Fortress Monroe, and on the morn- 
ing of the 4th, six divisions of the army, all 
that had then arrived, took up the line of march 
for Yorktown : Gen. Keyes, with three divi- 
sions, taking the road next to the James River, 
and the rest of the army, including our division, 
with Gen. McL'l'^llan in person, taking the di- 
rect road to Big Bethel. The enemy's videttes, 
who had returned there after our reconnoisanee, 
fled at our approach, as we learned from the ne- 
groes on the way. These people, wbo swarmed 
out in various places along tbe road, volun- 
teered all the information they were able to 
give, and answered our questions with all that 
native urbanity in which tbe great African na- 
tion stands pre-eminent. To our inquiries as 
to the strength of the enemy at Yorktown tbey 
replied, " Dey has a rigbt smart chance of men, 
but, Lawd, sir, no sicli piles of men as dis!" 
Their information was not of a character to be 
implicitly relied upon. But it was doubtless 
true that Magruder had not been yet reinforced 
by the main body of Johnson's army. During 
tiie first day's march the weather was pleasant 
and the roads were good, and the only tbing 
that occurred, worthy of note, was a slight 
skirmish with a small force who occupied some 
strong works at Howards Mdl, about six miles 
this side ot Yorktown. They were soon shelled 
out and we encamped there for the night. Tbe 
next morning we began our march in the rain, 
and though we had but six miles to go, it 
proved to bo one of the most ditficult marches 
we ever made. A few' hours raiu had com- 
pletely soaked the low, swampy soil of t'le Pe- 
ninsula, and the artillery wagons had worked 
it into a perfect mire. When we arrived with- 
in three mdes of Yorktown, heavy cannona- 
ding commenced; and. shortly after, word 
came to hurry forward as General McClellan 
wished us to go into action without delay. We 
quickened our pace, and, on arriving on tiie 
ground, found our troops engaged in a heavy 
artillery fight with the fort surrounding York- 
town, with sharp musketry between the skir- 
mishers. On a large, open plain to the lelt, 
heavy bodies of our troops were marshalling 
in battle array, and everything indicated that a 
battle was about to take place. 

The rebel position at Yorktown was an ad- 
mirable one for defending the approaches to 
Richmond by way of the Peninsula. Opposite 
the town was Gloucester Point, a small cape 
extending so far into York river as to reduce 
the channel to a very narrow breadth, perhaps 
less than a quarter of a mile in width. Around 
the town was drawn a strong bastioned fort, in 



some places thirty feet high from the bottom of 
the ditch, in no place less than twenty, and 
mounted with over seventy guns, the most of 
them ot a very heavy caliber. Thus, York- 
town might be said to have been the only 
walled town in the United States. In front of 
the fort was an open plain a mile in -width, and 
the cannon mounted in the fort were so pointed 
as to sweep theplaiu in every direction. Several 
large pieces pointed down the river ; and be- 
tween the fort and the batteries on Gloucester 
Point the river was effectually closed against 
the passage ot either transports or armed ves- 
sels. From the fort there extended a strong 
line of works across the Peninsula to Warwick 
River, a distance of about seven miles. The 
Warwick emptied into the James, and itsshwres 
were marshy and covered with heavy and im- 
penetrable forests. These long lines of worlis 
brought the army to a stand ; and after a few 
days of reconnoitering, to find a weak point, 
and an unsuccessful atteMipt at Lee's Mill to 
force the passage of the Warwick and turn 
their right, the project of carrying the works 
by assault was abandoned. Accordingly the 
army sat down before Yorktown for the pur- 
pose of reducing the place by the more tedious 
but safer operations of a siege. 

To our division, which lay on the extreme 
right of the army and immediately in front of 
Yurktown, was assigned the duty of conduct- 
ing the siege against their principal works. A 
place of encampment was selected about two 
miles from the town, the camps laid out and 
tbe siege commenced. Between us and the 
enemy there was a heavy body of woods, much 
cut up by gullies and ravines, and out of one of 
these gullies ran Wormley's Creek and emptied 
into York River; or, to speak more properly, 
Wormley's Creek was a bayou putting in from 
the river and rose and fell with the tide. These 
woods effectually screened a portion of our 
camps and concealed all our operations from 
the enemy. For the first few nights, about 
dark, heavy details of men, usually by regi- 
ments, armed with picks and spades, moved 
to the front and worked till daylight in the 
trenches ; and when the trenches became large 
enough to conceal and protect the men, the 
work was kept up night and day. On the 
night the trenches were opened, a strong line 
of videttes was thrown out several rods ahead 
so as to warn us of any approach of the enemy ; 
for the work was begun along the edge of the 
woods, directl3'-in front of their lines and with- 
in hearing of their pickets. At first, rifle pits, 
three feel; deep and three feet wide, were dug, 
and these were every night widened and deep- 



32 



Judson's History of 



ened until they became covered ways in which 
were constructed regular batteries with embra- 
zures for heavy ordnance. As soon as the 
enemy discovered that we were at work in the 
trenches, they opened on us from the fort, and 
night and day threw mortar shells, many of 
them with such precision that they fell among 
the men and occasionally did some damage. On 
these occasions, especially at night, men were 
stationed so as to watch the flash of their guns, 
and the instant they saw it they gave the word 
"down!" and down they all w(mt behind the 
works while the shells whistled harmlessly 
over them. A few men belonging to the divi- 
sion were killed and wounded in this manner, 
but none belonging to the Eighty-Third, i wo 
men, however, of Company E, were oadly in- 
jured one day by the limbs of a tree which had 
been torn off by a shell, and under which they 
were lying while on picket duty. 

Before the trenches had been opened and the 
siege fairly commenced, we had done picket 
duty along the edge of these woods facing the 
enemy's works. 'I he rebel pickets had, before 
our coming, dug numerous rifle-pits, large 
enough to hold one or two men each, and from 
them they kept up a constant firing upon our 
men whenever they appeared in sight. The 
rebels were so effectually concealei within 
these pits, and kept our men so closely under 
cover of the woods, tli'it we could not success- 
fully reconnoitre their positions, and it was 
always difficult to tell the exact direction from 
which their firing came. Bullets frequently 
flew over and among us without being prece- 
ded by the report of the rifle. Various plans 
were tried to draw them from their hiding 
places, but they were generally unsuccessful. 
Among the troops who acted the most promi- 
nent part in this picket warfare were Berdan's 
Sharpshooters. These men, some of whom had 
rifles of a long range, frequently kept, at the 
distance of nearly a mile, the rebel gunners 
quiet under protection of the parapets of the 
fort. 

Among the works built were fovirteen power- 
ful batteries, mounting from six to sixteen or 
more guns. Several of these batteries were 
built in the woods and the work was generally 
begun under cover ef darkness. On several 
occasions we descended into the trenches, the 
rain pouring down and the night so pitchy 
dark that we could not distinguish each other 
at the distance of two feet apart. Some of 
these works were constructed for thirteen inch 
mortar^, and others for thirty-two pounder 
Rodman guns and heavy rifled ordnance. 
Battery number one, on the beach of the river 
mounted several one hundred and two hundred 
pounder rifled Parrotts. Between this battery 
and the heavy guns of the enemy's fort, over 
two miles distant, th-) most magnificent artil- 
lery duels frequently took place. When our 
two hundred pounders opened the earth shook 
as if in the convulsions of an earthcjuake for a 
mile around, and their ponderous projectiles 



could be heard screaming through the air for 
several minutes until they plunged with a ter- 
rible explosion into the enemy's works. On 
the first night of the opening of the trenches 
this battery played upon the enemy's fort so 
as to keep them busy while we were at work. 
In the midst of the darkness and stillness of 
the night, the effect was what might have been 
called sublime. At first a flash like that of va- 
por lightning, suddenly illuminating the skies, 
would be seen ; then, as you stood eagerly list- 
ening to catch the report, counting one, two, 
three, five — ten — fifteen — twenty, and even thir- 
ty — the deep, heavv roar broke upon your ears, 
echoing and re-echoing for miles up au'l down 
the vast forests of the Peninsula ; and then came 
rushing along the tremendous projectile, with a 
whizzing sound resembling that of a meteor; 
and, bursting in mid air, the fragments would 
fly off in every direction, whirling and convolv- 
ing with a sound conforming to their size — 
some like the distant buzz of a threshing ma- 
chine, and some not unlike the shrill whistle of 
a steam engine. At other times the shells 
would fail to burst, and Ave cou'.d hear their 
heavy " thug" into the fort, although a mile 
distant, that reminded one of something like 
the concussion of two planets coming together. 
The amount of labor performed by our trowps 
in constructing these oatteries and in making 
all the requisite preparations for the grand 
bombardment, is incredible. Bridges were 
built across Wormley's Creek, the banks of the 
ravines were cut down, and over them roads 
made for the easy and rapid passage of troops. 
On the 3d of May the works were nearly com- 
pleted and everything nearly in readiness for 
the grand opening. About midiiight the enemy 
opened upon us with "mortar, paixhan, and pe- 
tard," and for two hours kept up a heavy, rap- 
id, and continuous cannonading. As we lay in 
our tents their shells came whistling and burst- 
ing over and scattering their fragments around 
us. One fragment pnssed through the tent of a 
drummer in the Eighty-Third, and smashed 
through his drum, which stood between him 
and his sleeping comrade. By a strange Prov- 
idence no one of the regiment was injured, 
although hundreds were thrown into our very 
midst. The roar of their cannon was heard 
over fifty miles, and we could hear the rever- 
beration of each successive explosion for a 
long time as it gradually died away in the dis- 
tance, like the successive waves of the .sea beat- 
ing upon the shore. By degrees the firing at 
last died away, and all again became as quiet 
as if a world had been burst into atoms by a 
succession of earthquakes, and then gone out 
of existence. In the morning the pickets dis- 
covered that there was no enemy in the fortifi- 
cations ; and cautiously moving up towards 
their works, found them deserted and alone. 
The rebels had given us their parting salute 
and started at midnight in full retreat for Rich- 
mond. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Up the York River to West Pohit. A Night Recoymoisance up the Pamunkey. Terrific Charge of 
the Eighty- Third, and their capture of a Congoan Metropolis. 



It was a subjent of considerable regret among: 
the men of our division that, after ail the labor 
they bad expended in anticipation of a grand 
bombardment, they were to be disuppoimed in 
the end ; althoiigti I am free to adm t that, when 
men have lain for weeks in daily expectation 
of a bloody battle, to wake up on s)me tiin- 
morning and tind the enemy gone, is product- 
ive of a sort of tranquillity of mind that is any- 
thing but disagreeable. When danger con 
fronts us our anxiety to meet it is generally 
moderated bj^ our fears ; but after it h^s passed 
away, without an encounter, we are ofcen tilled 
witu feelings of the keenest disappointment. 

As soon as it was ascertained that the enemy 
bad retreated, a portion of the army followed 
up, and coming upon their rear at Williams- 
burg, a bloody engagement resulting in the suc- 
cess of our arms, took plane. Several divisions 
including our own, remained behind for the 
purpose of taking transpjrts up the York 
River to West Poini ; and during that time, we 
were twice called out in the night, and once in 
the rain, to march to the support of our men. 
On the afternoon of the 8th we went aboard of 
the steam transports lying at Yorktown ; and, 
on the morning of the 9th, we came to anchor 
opposite West Point, and immediately com- 
menced landing the troops in pontoon boats 
on the right bank of the Pamunky. It wa^* 
late in the afternoon before the Third Brigade 
completed its landing ; but as soon as we were 
all ashore we moved about a mile back from 
the river and pitched our camp. 

It was upon this ground that Sedgwick's 
division, which had preceded us, repulsed an 
attack of the enemy's advance and drove them 
back into the woods towards Richmond. Had 
the enemy succeeded in driving fSedgwick, they 
might have retarded, if not entirely checked, 
the landing of Porter's, as well as the divisions 
of Richardson and Franklin which followed. 

West Point is the terminus of the Kichmond 
and York River Railroad, and comprises thai 
tongue of land which is formed by the junction 
of the Pamunky and tVlattapony rivers. Here 
was a good wharf and steamboat landing; and 
while the rebels were at "^forktovvn this .va.s 
one of their principal channels of supply and 
communication with Richmond. 

Here we remained a week, and the only ad 
venture we hud during that time was a recon- 
noisance up the Pamunky, on the night of the 
10th, by a portion of the Kighty-Third, under 
the command of Lieut. Colonel Vincent. The 
precise object of this expedition we never fully 
comprehen led ; but w^i were given to under 
stand that it was to capture some guerrillas, or 
night marauders, who had lately been in th>- 
haoit of coining down the York River Rail- 
road and plundering some plantations on 
the Pamunky. As soon as it was dark five 
companies were put on board of a small steam- 



er, to be transported acoss the river to West 
Point. While on the way Colonel Vincent 
assembled the officers together in the cabin and 
made known to them his plan of operations. 
On landing a contraband guide previously en- 
gaged for the purpose, was found secr<^ted un- 
der a building, awaiting our arrival. In a few 
moments we were noiselessly moving forward 
on the road leading up the river. The road 
was in fine order, the night was clear and the 
moon shone down brilliantly. All was silence 
and nothing was to be heard, above the snn- 
pres^ed whisperings of the men, but the shrill 
melancholy song of the whippoorwill, which 
always accompanied us in our marches along 
the forests and morasses of the Peninsula. We 
passed no habitations of men : it was all plan- 
tation, whose broad acres stretched away, 
without any visible boundary, in the distance, 
its perspective resembling, in the soft rays ot 
the moon, tlie vast illimitable waste of the 
ocean. After a march of five or six miles we 
arrived at the objective point, and vvere ordered 
to halt. 

This celebrated spot of earth, '.vhich is des- 
tined to become famous in history as the scene 
of one of the most desperate and bloodless en- 
counters of the Eighty-Third, was known, or 
might have been known, if I had been proper- 
ly informed, as the plantation of Mr. What- 
(i'ye-callhim, who was at that time an absen- 
tee, roaming about somewhere in that very 
dubious region of country known as the South- 
ern Confederacy. I choose to be thus exact in 
name and locality in order that the future stu- 
dent of history may linger in delightlul con- 
cemplation around this classic spot and say 
within himself: " Here is the scene of the 
prowess of the immortal Eighty-Third! Here 
was fought one of the most desperate and 
bloodless combats ever related in the annals of 
warfare !" 

If anything were wanting to complete the 
geogratjhical description of our new theatre ol 
operations, I might add that this plantation 
apparently consisted of a thousand acres, mor. 
or less, as do most of the plantations in tha^ 
country where the territories are all in th' 
hands of a few wealthy landed proprietors; 
that it laid upon the banks of the Pamunky, 
some five or six miles above West Point, wiili 
the York River Railroad running through it; 
that it was, so to speak, a dominion within it- 
self, cO'nprisini2c a pooulation of over one hun- 
dred souls, of African descent, whose little me- 
trop;)lis of Doric mansions reposed upon the 
romantic shores of the river in all the simplic- 
iiy of that severe and primitive style of archi- 
tecture. 

Having, by these preliminary descri' tions, 
prepared t'le mind of the re der for a becter 
understanding of the events that are to follow, 
let us now go back to the Eighty-Third, whose 



9 



34 



Judson's History of 



warlike ho-;ts W'Te e^s^erly awaiting; the ordei 
to he in ir-ihriUpii in b-tttle arrav. EveryihiiU' 
bei lis i" reariiiiess f ir th« inoveinent, two oom 
panies deployed as skirmi-hprs and b )ldly ad 
vancedto the aita';k. The remaining cornoa 
nies, liavint? t'orme 1 line of battle, advanced t<- 
ttje sup lort of tne skirmishers; keeping, liovv 
ever, at a proper distan '.q to the rear so as to 
avoid being subjected to an enfilading fire from 
the enerav's artillery. The skirmishers gained 
the rise of ground wliich sto )d bMwixt the at 
tacking column and the enemy. In a momeni 
more they disappeared beyond it and rapidly 
approached llie doomed A.trii-an city, whosf 
ptacdfnl inhiihitants, locked in the arms ol 
sleef-), little dreamed of the storm of wir Iha 
was about to b irst overtheir heads. Suddenly 
the deep, heavv having ol th^ir watch dojjs 
tliose taith'dl guar lians of Sou'hern homes, 
(and of iheir negroe-i, too) burst fortM from every 
kennel on the plantati >n. A.larm->d bv th->ii 
sentinel-', the dogs, vvliose howls, tlicir wat'-h, 
the p'^ople rushed to their doors; and, on be- 
h )lding a gang of <lesper idoes ad-vanciog upon 
them, the cold steel of their weapotis glitterint; 
in the bright be ims of the moon, they brok-- 
and tie! in precipitation to the banks of tht- 
river. I presu neth-it the most trying situation 
in which a man can be placed is to suddenly 
find a gang of murderers on one side oi him 
and a |>reeipice on the other. Theshores of ih- 
river at tliis point were high and preiMpiirtus, 
an 1 the river itself wide and deep. Tue mo 
meoiour men stw those dusky forms flittini- 
hillier and thither, in panic and affriglit, tlie\ 
knew ih-it tliT) enemy was routed, horse, foot 
and dragoon ; and, with that enthusiasm with 
which we always pursue a flying foe, they 
charged forward, with a j^ell and a double 
quick, in order to secure the prize of victorj^ 
which now seemed within their grasp. 

Here the Muse of History begs leave to come 
down, for a few moments in order to tak<^ 
breath and. to plume her wings for a more 
m^ijesiic flight. Ic was the custom of Homer to 
rest b >ih his muse and his reader, it times, bv 
introducing the gods assemble 1 in council and 
holding boisterous dialogues upon th-- affairs ol 
mortal men ; and I retnember that on one oc- 
casion he refreshes us with the sublime specta- 
cle of all the gods rushing down the sides >! 
Olympus at once, each one armed after his 
own fashion, to take part in the mighty contest 
that was about to ensue. First and foremost 
of all came June, the term igant. carrying a 
long pole with which she intended to stir up 
the nations and sat them together by the ear.s. 
Next cam^ Mtrs, the soldier, armed with a 
sword and InicklH-r, who, lik« a true patriot 
and hero, always goes forth to meet the enems 
and to fight out tbesquabbles wliich tiolitici;ins 
and te .inagant women have raised alo )Ut him 
Last of all cmie earth-shaking Neptune, the 
great pacificator and cooler of heated passions, 
who comes down upon the whole concern with 
a wet Dlanket. He, too, was armed ; but he 
was armed with a pad(ile, the full scope and 
menning of which was that he intended to row 
them all up Salt Kiver together. But I intend 
to use no siKih clap-trap machinery as this in 
my des(!riptions. 

it was also customary with that prince of 
poets, when on th^ eve of deseribmg a great 
battle, to invoke the aid of the Muses, as il 
human genius were too weak, unaided and 
alone, for such a mighty undertaking. In like 
paauner do I feel compelled to call upon those 



same young ladies for a little help. Descend, 
riierefore, ye Pierian train, and assis : But 
irst, O Muse, declare what now took place 
upon the winding shores of the tobacco pro- 
lucing Pamunky. 

The negroes, half dead with fright, broke for 
the river and our men after them. Then, as 
huge rocks, from high Olympus or from Peli- 
>ns craggy summit torn, wbicli, gathering 
force at each successive bound, whirl, leap, and 
ihase each other down thernountain's side : 
odown the banks of the Pamunky, tobacco- 
/rowing stream rushed assailant and assailed, 
pursuer and pur-ued, soldier and nigger, all 
r ollinti and tumbling together in a heap. And 
vhen they had fairly reached thebittom they all 
-prang to their feet again and made readv for 
another ch ise. Butourmen. wi.h repeated de- 
mands to halt and surrender, again dashed 
forward, seized the enemy by t'le throats and 
lUimed them as prisoners of war. Nor was 
It until they had cnme to this hand to hand, en- 
counter and secured the I'rize of victory, and 
the sooty countenances of the affrighted foe 
had begun to gleam upon the disordered vis- 
sions of our men, even as the towers of Ilion 
rleamed by moonlight upon the rapt visions of 
h-* (lirecian hosts, that the truth broke upon 
them: whereu )on the combat ceased, and both 
victor aid vanquished came back t igetber. 

It may be here asked why our men did not 
lire upon the retreating enemy, as is usual in 
such cases, when they refuse to hall and sur- 
render. To this I would reply that, when an 
enemy is once routed and put to flight, it is the 
oart of humanity, not to shoot them down like 
S) many wild beasts, but to secure their cap- 
ture; and, by thus saving their live«, to obtain 
from them much valuable information, and to 
extend to them, in return, the privilege of tak- 
ing the oath of allegiance. Moreover, to 
capture the enemy were our orders; and, in 
tdnering strictly t these orders, the men of the 
Eiij;hty-Third showed their obedience to the 
commands of their superior ofiicers and their 
excellent di'^pline as soldiers. Had they com- 
menced firing they might have alarmed the 
neighboring kingdoms, or plantations, and so 
defeated the object of the expedition. As it 
was they achieved a success, and success is the 
criterion by which we mast always judge of the 
merits of the plan of every great undertaking. 

After the smoke of battle had passed away 
and order had been re-established along ihelines 
and a good understanding had been effected 
between the victorious and vanquished parties, 
A^e sat down in the streets of the metropolis 
and passed an hour in a highly intellectual and 
instrutttive conversation with some of the 
principal inhabitants. We were especially 
careiul to impress the fact upon their minds 
that, although the fortunes of war had placed 
them in our power and thai they were now a 
conquered and tributary people, far would it be 
from us to impos6 upon them any humiliations 
ih It were calculated to wound the feelings of a 
chivalorous and highly sensitive people. Much 
less should we oppress them by quartering 
armed troops in their midst, or by levying 
contributions upon their subsistence, or itn pos- 
ing upon them grievous and burdensome 
faxes. Nay, in the flower and qnintes-ence of 
our ffiiienanimity, we would so far renounce 
the rights of conquerers as to withdraw our 
forces from their territories, restore the city 
to iis freedom and its citizensi to their ancient 
privileges and immunities. This magnani- 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



35 



luous condescension, towards a fallen and 
prostrate toe, so wrought upon the gratitude oi 
that great people that they proceaded at on(!e to 
spread before us the choicest and !nost delieatn 
viands ; and accordingly they served up to u-* a 
repast consisting of hog-meat, hon-cake and 
buttermilk : and, as it was the custom of war 
in those days to accept of nothing withou' 
giving ample remuneration therefor, we loaded 
their pockets wi'h silver,- all, who sat down t<> 
the repast, liaving maie a voluntary condona 
tion of one quarter of a dollar apiece. 

During the progress of this sumptuous feast 
we entered into various and learned disquisi 
tions in relation to their form of government, 
the customs, liahit^, and dispositions of their 
governors, and elicited from tliem mtich valu- 
able inlormation regarding the geography and 
topography of tlie country. We ascertained 
thac the governor of these territories was then 
absent (a- it might be reasonably suppos-d ht- 
would be) ; that, at the lime of the arrival ol 
the Yankees in these parts, he, havins^j basines- 
of an important nature to transact in a neigh 
boring State, had departed without leaving his 
city properly garrisoned and defended; that 
in his absence, a viceroy, known in the Congo 
an vernacular as an overseer, had lorded it ovei 
them; and that very recenily he, too, havmu 
business of an urgent nature in some neigh 
boring Staie, had left without maturing the ne- 
cessary preparations with which to withstand 
an assault or repel an invasion. 

But in no department of human knowledg^ 
did they display such surprising accuracj'as in 
the ideas they had previously formed of th> 
pliysiological conformation and habits of the 
detested race of Yankees. This accuracy wa> 
owing cbietiy to the fact tliat their knowlec]g^ 
was traditional, not historical, and bad been 
handed down orally by their good old gover- 
nors. Hence, it was more reliable llian if de 
livered to them by lying historians, who write 
for pay, and are seldom to be trusted. From a 
certain reservedness of manner, which we at 
tributed to a generous delicacy of feeling, 
we were unable to elicit a full and impartia 
explanation of the ideas they had previotislj^ 
entertained of us. But if I might venture ti 
judge, from several inuendoes casually drop 
ped during the interview, of the purport oi 
these oral traditions, I should say that theii 
notions of the Yankees were that they were 
a race of monsters, compounded of cyclop-, 
Bengal tiger and gorilla, and that they soughi 
no other employment but to cut the throat 
of every nigger that fell in their way. 

Exceedingly rejoiced, therefore, were they to 
find that their previous notions had been so er 
roneous; as men must needs rejoice who, ex- 
pecting their throats to be cut, meet with noth 
ing but kindn9>s at the band-; of their supjjOsed 
assassins. A perceptible change in their leel 
ings towards us began to manifest itself; which 
seeming condescension on tue part of that mag- 
nanimous people greatly delighted us. Way, 
they went so far as to express their want oi 
contidence in the administrations of their for- 
mer governors, and to signify their willingU'-ss 
to transfer their allegiance to the government 
of the United States, and to hereafter join their 
political fortunes with ours ; which additional 
condescension on the part of that excellent peo- 
ple also greatly delighted us. Their ancient 
and traditional veneration for their former 
governors, it was evident, had sustained a 
heavy shock. They even began to indulge in 



language indicating that they cared less for the 
•safety and future welfare of their good old 
^ove'uor than they did for their own. In a 
word, with that remarkable philosophy which 
dways enables one race to bear up under the 
misfortunes of another, who have enslaved 
hem, they gave us to tinderstand that they 
did not care a tig what ha i become of nim, and 
that they were ready at any moment to aban- 
don him and his fortunes and to tinite their 
destinies, henceforth and forever, with the bru- 
cal and deiesiel race of Yankees. 

Let us now return to the Eighty-Third. I 
suppose the reader will imagine that, all the 
while this eolloqu3^ wasgoing on, the two hostile 
armies were drawn itp in battle array, after the 
manner of some of those armies in Homer, 
where the contending heroes advance to the 
front and centre, and there hold )«uch laid and 
boisterous dialogue that the gods themse-lves 
often gathered together, upon a pile of clouds, 
tnd looked down in w<mder and admiraiion 
upon the speclacle. But no such thing. To 
comedown to plain English, the fact is, that, 
vvliile a lew of us were having a private chat 
with the negroes about their old mau'Ster, and 
were assuring them that we had no intention 
whatever of cuiting their throats, and were 
putting them throu-h a course of lectures geu- 
r-rally, upon llie l)eatiMes of the free labor sys- 
tem, and so forth, tbe balance of the regiment 
liad gone to roossi in a large stack of straw near 
oy ; and when we relurned our ears were ^^al- 
uted with the lottd reverbeiating snores of our 
droasy warriors. Videties had been stationed 
tt the front and every precatition taken to 
secure themselves again>t a surprise; for, it 
inust be remembered, we had not yet encoun- 
tered the real enemv in quest of whom we had 
•ome. But it is needless to say that no enemy 
made his appearance, and no surprise was at- 
tempted. We slept till a bout an hour before day- 
Light when, the object of our expedition being 
at an end, we started back towards camp. The 
•same moon was still shining in the heavens, but 
lower down in the horizon ; the saine silence of 
the night prevailed, and the same song of the 
whippoorwill kept time to the heavy tramp of 
our men as we retrace 1 the road baik to VVest 
Point. Day had dawned before we reached the 
landing. In a few motnents the same little 
steamer which had brought us over the river, 
steamed up to the wharf and, in half an hour 
more we were again in our old camp. 

In summing up the gains and losses of a 
campaign, it is customary among military com- 
manders to give a full and succiuct detail of all 
the captures of men and material, as this is the 
principal evidence of success. Know, then, 
that the sum total of the captures of this cam- 
pagn, was ©ne old cow, lank, lean, and lop- 
jawed, and apparently in the las^ stages of con- 
sumption or siarvation. This capture having 
been adjtidged contrary to the rules of war in 
those days, she was ordered to be restored to her 
awful owner. With that promptness with which 
>uch orders are executed in the army, the old 
heiter instead of beins returned was run off to 
anotlier regiment, and from that regiment to an- 
other, and so on until she was lost sight of; and 
the next thing I saw of her, she was standing 
by the roadside, on the march to the Chicka- 
homiuy, with a hungry soldier sitting by her, 
going hrough the illusiory process of milking, 
and extracting about as much nourishment as 
if he had been attempting to milk the four 
corners of a dry towel. 



36 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER VII. 



March to the Chickahominy. The Battle of Hanover Court House. 
Attempt to bridge and cross the river. 



Rise in the Chickahominy, 



By the 12th of Mav, the four divisions that 
came up the York River had landed, while thi- 
rest of the army, which came up the Peninsula 
had arrived and esstablished communication on 
our left. On the 13tb we broke camp, and at 
night we reached Cumhei-land, a landing some 
twenty miles by road further up the Pamun 
ky. Here we Avere reviewed by Secretary 
Seward. From there we moved to VVlilte 
House, still further up the river, which wass 
destined to become our base of supplies, and 
there we found a great portion of tlie army 
massed. Here we remained for several days, 
when we again took up the line of march and 
(several days after arrived at Cold Harbor on 
the Chickahominy. 

It was somewhere about this time that the 
Fifth Corps, composed of the divisions of Gen 
Porter and Gen. Sykes was organized. Porter's 
division was denominated the First Division, 
and Sykes' reajulars the Second. A short time 
bef)re the battle of Mechanicsville, McCall'i^ 
division of Pennsylvania Reserves were de- 
tached fi-om McDowell's corps and sent to ours. 
The whole was placed under the command ol 
Gen. Porter, and the First Division under com- 
mand of Gen. Morell. We remained at C. Id 
Harbor some two or three days and then re- 
moved oiir camp to the Gaines Farm. Here 
we pitched our tents apparently for a long 
stay, doing picket duty along the shores of the 
Cuickahominy and performing the u.«ual rou- 
tine of camp "duties ; when on the night of tbe 
26th, Coi. McLane called the commandants ol 
companies together and informed them that an 
important movement was on foot, and ordered 
them to have their companies in readiness to 
move at daylight tbe next morning. 

Before day-break it comtnenced raining, and 
and at four o'clock we were out in line in read- 
iness for the march. On moving out of camp 
and striking into the Mechanicsville road, we 
found the whole of the division on the move, 
horse, loot, and artillery. Tbe rain continued 
to pour down without cessation, but neverthe- 
less the troops went forward. After a fatiguing 
march of about eighteen miles through rain 
and mud and ponds of water, we came within 
a few miles of Hanover Cimrt House at about 
three o'clock in tbe afternoon, and before we 
had arrived faiilj' on tbe field, the cannonad- 
ing commenced between our artillery and that 
of the enemy. 

Wo were hurried rapidly forward and hav- 
ing halted for a moment in an open field, to 
dispose of our blankets and other articles of 
encumbrance, we again pushed ahead under a 
heavy fire from the enemy's batteries. Several 
regiments of the enemy who were supporting 
these batteries, fell ba«k as we advanced and 



took shelter in a body of woods in our front, 
where their movements were concealed frona 
our observatif)n. Having chased them through 
I portion of the woods we halted a few min- 
utes under orders Irom the commanding gen- 
-ral, and again pres=ied forward ; the whole 
brigade (except the Forty-Fourth which had 
been temporarily assigned to Martindale'a 
brigade) advancing in line of battle. Passing 
through a ravine filled with bushes, we cap- 
tured a few prisoners who were lying concealed 
in the thicket. In the meantime the enemy 
had disappeared from our front, and one piece 
of their artillerj' had been abandoned and left 
standing on the field. We passed by this piece, 
our right flank almost touching it, but having 
ao time to spend in capturing deserted ord- 
nance, we moved on. The Seventeenth New 
York shortly after came up and, with a yell of 
trlutnph captured the gun, and bore it off as a 
trophy; for which deed of valor the Colonel 
commanding that regiment received his full 
share of praise in the celebrated report of Gen. 
McClellan. 

We soon changed the direction of our pur- 
suit and moved off towards the left, between 
I wo bodies of woods ; the one on our left being 
the one in which the rebel infantry had disap- 
peared. It seetued that our brigade was des- 
tined to chase something, but we could not see 
what it was, and have never yet ascertained. 
We kept moving towards the Court House, 
which w^e could see on a rise of ground two 
miles distant; but no enemy appeared, other 
than a few horsemen, who kept in sight merely 
for the purpose of watching our movements. 
We pressed forward, however, in the eagerness 
of pursuit, dashed across the South Anna, con- 
siderably swollen by the late rains, and, having 
gained the brow of the hill, halted a few mo- 
ments in the open field to the rear of a country 
inn. 

We had not been here five minutes when we 
heard sharp and rapid musketry from the very 
spot where the engagement bad commenced. 
In pursuing the various detachments of the 
enemy, our division had become divided, and 
the main force of the enemy, which had kept 
concealed in the woods, taking advantage of 
the opportunity, attacked Martindale's brigade 
which, together with the Forty-Fourth, stood 
their ground for nearly an hour. It was over two 
miles from where we then were to the scene of 
action. We were immediately ordered for- 
ward, and moving along the track of the Vir- 
ginia Central for the distance of a mile, we di- 
verged to the right and marched up through a 
wheatfield, in the direction of the woods where 
the engagement seemed to be the heaviest. On 
reaching the top of a hill the brigade formed 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



37 



line of battle, and with a yell and a doublt 
()uick, charged into the woods in our front. T<> 
march in line of battle through these woo.is, 
til ed with ravines and rivulets, whose marshy 
banks were covered with ttiick undergrowth ol 
bushes, was an extremely difficult undertaking. 
But Colonel Mc Lane went ahead and encour- 
aged the men to follow him, " Now is the time,'" 
said he, " to prove yourselves soldieis !" The 
woods were three quarters of a mile in depth ; 
and all the while we were marching through it, 
the heavy firing in front continued; and, as wt 
approached the opening where the 'atlle was 
rauing, the crash of small arms and the roar ol 
artillery became nearer, clearer, deadlier. As 
every tresh regiment came up to the support ot 
our troops, we could hear thein pouring whole 
broadsides at once into the ranks of the enemy, 
till tinally the tiring slackened ; and, at the 
very moment we debouched from the woods, 
it entirely ceased. 

We found the Forty-Fourth drawn up in line 
at right ant;les to the line of battle in whicn we 
then stood; for it must he remembered thai 
the order ot battle had been completely re- 
versed, and what, in the tir»t part of the day, 
constituted the right Hank of our forces, was 
now their left, and what nad been the lelt tlank 
ot the enemy was low their right. In the tirst 
attack we had driven them towards the North, 
and they had stolen around in the woods and 
come uoon our troops from the opposite direc- 
tion. Their left, during the second tight, was 
resting in the woods through which we had 
marched to the support of Martindale, and the 
advance of our brigade had turned their left 
and they were compelled to fall back and re- 
tire from the field. 

In a few moments we were again ordered for- 
ward in pursuit. The rebels had retreated 
about a mile down the Ashland Koad, our ar- 
tillery playing on them all the while; and, 
having filed into the fields on either side of the 
road, they again formed line of battle, laid 
down in the grass and awaited our approach. 
Our brigade pushed rapidly on, and, having 
formed line across the railroad, marched to- 
wards the enemy in that order. When we had 
approached within three hundred yards ol 
their line, they suddenly sprang up and opened 
a severe and well directed tire upon us. In- 
stantly Colonel McLane gave the command, 
"down." The men fell upon their faces and 
for fifteen or twenty minutes a constant shower 
of bullets screamed and whistled over us. As 
soon as their firing had ceased we were ordered 
to "up!" when our men sjirang to their feet 
and returned the fire. The musketry continued 
a few minutes when the command was given 
to cease firing. As soon as the smoke had 
cleared away, we looked towards the front, and 
saw the retjels in full retreat again down the 
Ashland Road. This was the third encounter 
in which they had met our troops upon that 
day and been driven every time. A sec- 
tion of ariillei-y then wheeled into position, 
and gave the rebels a parting salute, with a few 
shells directed into the midst of their retreating 
columns. 

It was now nearly dark. Our troops were 
fatigued by the hard day's work. The enemy 
had been repulsed and driven before us, and 
we now marched back to the place where we 
had left our blankets, and bivoucked for the 
night. Here we were joined by the Companies 
of Captains Brown and Knox, which had been 
detached in the early part of the engagement, 



<s skirmishers. They had skirmished the 
woods thoroughly and had captured over a 
hundred prisoufrs. 

From the prisoners we learned that the rebel 
forces here amounted to about ten thousand 
men, under the command of Gen. Branch, and 
that they v/ore then on their way from Gor- 
donsviile to Richmond. 

This was the tirst battle in which the Eighty- 
Third had been engaged. At Yorktown th y 
had frequently been under the heavy fire of the 
enemy's artillery, but had never yet come into 
ihe close encounter of a muskelrj' fight. It 
was as Gen. Buttertield said their " baotismal 
iire," and most gallantly did they behave 
under it. They walked up to receive the 
deadly fire of the i nemy with all the coolness of 
the heroes of fifty battles. "They behaved," 
said the General, "on each and every occasion 
like veterans." 

In this engagement we had eight men 
wounded and none killed. One, however, 
died shortly after from the effects of bis wounds. 
Pwo were reported to be missing. The Forty- 
Fourth which had encountered narder fighting, 
lost much more heavily. 

On the morning of the next day, we moved 
up into a clover field, over which we had 
fought the day before and pitched our tents. 
The men, whose rations had given out, and 
whose supplies had not yet arrived, were 
permitted to go out foraging, and they came 
came back loaded with pigs, turkeys and fowls, 
together with several demijohns of good liquor 
captured from the cellars of the fleeing inhab- 
itants. We remained there till the 29lh, when 
we returned to our old camp at Gaines' Mill, 

One of the results of this affair was the large 
number of contrabands that followed us back to 
camp. They ramained in the Regiment a 
long time afterwards, and participated in all its 
marches, fatigues and in not a few of its 
dangers. Many since have enlisted in the 
army and h ive done their share in the work of 
ovei throwing the rebellion and striking (jff the 
shackles from their long enslaved race. 

We did not leave Hanover on our return until 
three o'clock in the afternoon, and did not 
reach I'.amp until two o'clock ihe next morning, 
[he march to Hanover had been severe and fa- 
tiguing and many had fallen out on the way. 
But as it was performed rapidly it had less of 
that irksomeness which always attends slow 
and difficult marching. The return, which 
occupied eleven hours, although it was only a 
distance of eighteen miles, was oneof themo.st 
trying that we have ever undergone. The ar- 
tillery and wagon trains got frequently stuck 
in the mire, often occasioning an hour's delay; 
and profiting by these delays the weary soldiers, 
exhausted as much in patience as in bod}', sat 
down to rest and fell asleep in the woods and 
by the roadside, and many of them did not 
come up till the next day. 

On the SOtli heavy firing was heard in the di- 
rection of Richmond, and we soon after re- 
ceived orders to fall in, stack arms, and bold 
ourselves in readiness to move at a moment's 
notice. As tired as the men were, they obeyed 
the order with alacrity, but the order to move 
did not come. On that evening happened one 
of those terrific storms of thunder, lightning 
and rain so peculiar to the "sunny South." 
One man in the Forty-Fourth was killed and 
two others severely stunned by the shock. The 
rained poured down in a perfect deluge for over 
an hour. The roads ran in torrents. The 



38 



Judson's History of 



streams were all swollen, and the Cbicka- 
hominy became so high as to overflow its banks 
and iuundate the shores for some distance 
around. The rebels knowing that we had not 
yet bridged the river so as to enable us to throw 
heavy bodies of troops from one bank to the 
other with celerity determined to take advan- 
tage oi the occasion, and by throwing large 
masses upon the left flank of the army, crush 
it and drive it back upon the right. And in 
accordance with this design, upon the first and 
second of June, followed the battle of Fair 
Oaks. 

On the night of the 31st, at about ten o'clock, 
we had orders to pack up all but the tents, and 
be ready to move ; but after most of the 
men had packed their blankets, we were 
ordered to fiiU in with only blankets, hav- 
ersacks, and canteens. At eleven we mov- 
ed past Gaines' House down to the bank 
of the river, where we loaded and stacked 
arms and remained during the night. The 
whole division was apparently on the move. 
The engineers commenced throwing a bridge 
across the Chickahominy and we sat down to 
await its completion, fully expecting to cross 
over that nigh). On that day tue first battle at 
Fair Oaks was fought within our hearing, and 
we were to take part in the struggle which was 
to be renewed on the next day. But the heavy 
rains that fell on the twenty-ninth and thirti- 
eth had raised the stream so high that it baffled 
all the exertions of the iingiiieers. Every 
hour it giCAT higher and wider; growing in 
width faster than the bridge grew in length. 



The Chickahominy is, perhaps, the wors 
stream of its size on the cntiient for the pur 
pose of easy and rapid bridging. During a grea 
part ot its course, its black Mygian waves dra| 
slowly along through an almost impassable ran 
rass, from half a mile to a mile in width, and it 
miry bottom presents little or no foundation fo 
a bridge. The night was cool and chilly, accom 
panied by a slight drizzling rain, and, as n 
fires could be iised, we passed a dreary nigb 
upon the ground. The next morning the figh 
was renewed, but we were not yet over. W 
heard every shot and every volley that wa 
tired, every yell of our men as they charge 
the enemy, and the cheers of victory that follow 
ed ; and had our corps been thrown across, it i 
possible that the enemy might hive been route 
and pursued to the walls of Richmond. Bu 
the river had baffled the skill of our engineers 
the battle had been won by our troops and w 
had nothing to do l)ut to return to camp. 

From this time to the 2Ist of July our tim 
was spent in picketing along the river, i 
drilling, fatigue and other ordinary campdutiei 
On that day we removed about a mile and 
half further east and pitched a new camp, W 
had laid out our camp with considerable tasti 
had turn piked the streets and adorned thei 
with shade trees and were making all the pn 
parations for a protracted stay, when on tfc 
evening of the 25th the air became tilled wit 
rumors, and we received orders to pack up a 
our baggage and send the wagons across tL 
the river to be parked at the headquarters ( 
Gen, McClellan. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



39 



CHAPTER VIII. 



The Battle of Games' Mill. 
Chickahominy. 



Death of Col. McLane ayid Major Naghcl. Our Retreat across the 



The men of the Eighty-Third having passed 
through the baptismal tires of Yorktown and 
Hanover Court House were now about to un- 
dergo an ordeal compared with which Yorli- 
town and Hanover were mere skirmishes. And 
perhaps there WHS never before, for the num- 
bers engaged, a more severe and desperate con- 
flict than the memorable battle of Gaines' Mill. 
A Confederate narrative called it the " bloodi- 
est contest that had been witnessed during the 
campaign; and men who had gone through 
Williamsburg. Manassas, and the Seven Pines, 
declared that they had never seen war bt-fore." 
Although the battle resulted disastrously to 
onr arms, yet the gallant behavior of the Eigh- 
ty-Third upon that day has covered them with 
glory ; for never, in my opinion, did men fight 
with more obstinacy and acquit themselves 
with more honor. And I wish also to bear tes- 
timony to the gallant conduct of two other reg- 
iments of the Third Brigade upon that occa- 
sion, the Fortjr-Pourth New York and the Six- 
teenth Michigan. Out of all the regiments of 
Porter's corps, these three were the last to leave 
the field. And although they fought alone and 
against hope, they fought until darkness, and 
the enemy in overwhelming numbers had 
closed around them. 

On the afternoon of the 26th, we broke camp 
and moved on through the woods, in which ihe 
battle was afterwards fought, some four or Ave 
miles in the direction of Cold Harbor. Various 
were the conjectures as to our destination ; for 
at that time the plans of the enemy, though 
known perhaps to the Commanding Generals, 
were not yet known to the rank and file. After 
the battle of Fair Oaks, at which Gen. John- 
son was severely wounded, the command of the 
rebel army had been assumed by Gen. Lee. 
For Aveeks during the period of our inactivity, 
tl'ey had been concentrating their forces, and 
bringing forward their fresh levies to the de- 
fence of Richmond, and Lee was soon about to 
make a display of his combinations and his 
superior numbers against us. Jackson had 
been brought down from the Valley, and was 
already at Hanover Court House. Lee's plan 
was to transfer the main body of his army to 
the left bankef the Chickahominy, and attack 
our forces in front, while Jackson with thirty 
thousand men, was to hurl his legions upon 
our flank and rear. Their object was to crush 
the right wing of onr army, break up our base 
of supplies at the White House, and thus force 
us lo fall back and se*-k another base upon the 
James or at a greater distance I'rom Richmond. 
The attacking force numbered about sixty 
thousand men, while Porter's corps, which 
were destined almost alone to sustain > he shock 
of these assaulting columns, numbered twenty- 
seven thousand men all told. 



The reader will understand that the posi- 
tion of our army bef re Richmond was some- 
tiiing like the shape of a letter V, occupying 
both banks of the Chickahominy. The left < 
rested a little beyond Fair Oaks, some four or 
five miles from the reb^^l Capital, the lines 
extending thence in a northeasterly direction 
down to the river at Gaines' (which position 
may be called the heel of the letter), and then 
running northwest uo the left bank of the riv- 
er to the vicinity of Mecbanisville. Porter's 
entire corps occupied the left bank and consti- 
tuted the right Wjug of the army. 

The First Division, under Gen. Morell (to 
which wp belonged), lay at Gaines' Mill. Sykes' 
Second Division ot regiilars lay on the Mechan- 
icsville Road, about two miles further up the 
river, and McCall's Third Division of Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves about two miles beyond the 
regulars, and a little this side of Mechanics- 
ville, along the banks of a small marshy creek, 
called the Beaver Dam, which flowed into the 
Chickahominy. The reserves bad fortified 
their position Avith a line of earthworks and 
abbattis, and Held themselves in readiness to 
repel the attack of the enemy. The First and 
Second Brigades of our division bad been sent 
foiward to protect their right flank, but in the 
engagement which followed they did not have 
an opportunity of participating. About 12 
o'clock, the enemy having crossed over at 
Meadow's Bridge, had driven in their skir- 
mishers and advanced against the troops post- 
ed behind the earthworks. They were received 
with such a galling fire, from both infantry 
and artillery, t.iat they fell back in disorder. 
Again they rallit^d, and again they were re- 
pulsed. The reserves had been gloriously suc- 
cessful. Then commenced a fierce and contin- 
uous artillery combat, which kept the heavens 
lighted up with its constant flashes, and tilled 
our ears like the roar of distant thunder, until 
9 o'clock at niaht. 

Whilst the First and Second were hastening 
forward to the support of the Reserves, th-? 
Third Brigade, as I have before stated, march- 
ed out toward Cold Harhor for the purpose, as 
we now discovered, of supiiorting the cav dry 
in their reconnoisance, and of protecting our 
flank and rear in that quarter. On arriving at 
an old tavern by the wayside, we found Rush's 
Lancers, who had encountered a large force of 
the enemy's cavalry a few miles beyond, and 
had been driven back. Each regiment of the 
brigade was immediately sent out in various 
directions into the woods, and marched and 
countermarched through Ihem so as to induce 
theenemv to believe that we had a large force. 
But no enemy made his appearance in our im- 
mediate front, and, after remaining an hour, we 
marched back to the camp we had formerly 



40 



Judson's History of 



occupied near ?Jaines' House, there to await 
furl bier orders. We had remained there scarcely 
an hour when we were ag;ain in motion on tbe 
road toward Mefihanicsville. It was now nearly 
sundown. Tbe enemy had been successfully 
repulsed at Beaver Dam Run. Our su,)port 
was not required, and we baited at the head- 
quarters of Gen. Porter, about two miles this 
side, and bivouacked for the nigbt. 

We laid down for rest, but not for sleep ; for 
all the indications were that to-morrow's dawn 
would usher in the most terrible strusgle that 
we bad yet seen, and the roar of artillery in 
our front, lighting up the firmament with its 
succession of vivid flashes, even until after the 
hour of nine, gave token o the awful storm 
that was approaching. But the storm was des- 
tined to tail upon us in another placp, and in a 
position of our own selcciion. In order to save 
our vast train and ennble il to cross the river 
in time, it was necessary to make a deter- 
mined stand at some point with our whole 
cort s. 'Jo make that stand at Mechanicsville, 
would have left our flank and rear too much 
exposed, and would not have' enabled us to 
cover the bridges over the Chickahominy, or 
to escape across them in case of a defeat. Or- 
ders were therefore given to fall back toGaines' 
Mill, select a good position, and await the ap- 
proach of tbe ent-my. 

Long before daylight the Reserves and the 
troops of the First and Second Brigades of our 
division had commenced Jailing back toward 
Gaines' Mill, along the road near which we 
were bivouacked, and before daylight we, too, 
were aroused from our broken slumbers, with- 
out having time to take even a hasty breakfast. 
We marched back by another road, ih.ough 
Gaines' farm, to the woods in front of the 
Adams house, where we had broken camp the 
day before. 

The ground on which the battle was fought, 
was rolling, being considerably broken up into 
ravines and hollows. Some of it was open 
country and some of it was heavily timbered. 
The woods in which our line of battle was 
formed, extended from the slope of the high 
ground terminating in the flats, from one-hall 
to three quarters of a mile from tbe river, to 
Gaines' Mill and were about a mile in lengih. 
The stream on which the mill stood emptied 
into the Chickahominy, flowing a little over 
half way between the.se wood-; and Gaines' 
house. At a point below the mill a small rivu- 
let branched oft, and, running along the skirts 
of these woods, again emptied into the stream 
It was on the bank of this rivulet, in a hollow 
in the edge of tbe woods, that the Eighty-Third 
and Forty-Fourth New York formed line ol 
battle. On the right of us was posted the brig 
ade of Gen. Maitindale, and on the right of 
Martindale the brigade of Gen. Griffln. i'he 
First division thus formed the left of tbe whole 
line, and tbe Third Brigade tbe leit of the First 
division. On tbe right of our d vision Sykes' 
regulars were drawn up, the whole line form 
ing the arc of a circle; and the troops were so 
di.sposed that two regiments of each brigade 
were posted in rear of tbe flrst line as supports. 
Tbe Sixteenth Michigan and tbe Tweifih New 
York, (the latter of which had joined us at 
Hampton in March,) were drawn up as the 
supports of our brifjade, on the rise of ground 
about seventy-five yjirds to our rear. Behitid 
this second line, McCall's division was formed, 
thus making three lines of battle. On our left 
was a body of cavalry, and also a number of 



oieces of artillery, so posted as to sweep the 
river flats, should the enemy make a demon- 
stration upon our flank in that direction. A 
battery of siege guns was also in position upon 
the heights, on the opposite side of the river, 
which would pour an enfilading fire upon the 
enemy as they advanced across the fields. Be- 
I ween each brigade and division batteries were 
placed so as to open a cross fire on the enemy 
approaching from the front. Tbe right of the 
line was also guarded by a body of cavalry. 
Tbe whole corps having thus got into position, 
and made every preparation for the attick 
laid down to rest and awaited the approach of 
the attacking column*. 

In a few moments Col. McLane, conceiving 
that our naturally strong position might be 
made impregnable by throwing up breast 
works of logs, brush and timber, gave orders 
for its execution, and immediately the men fell 
to work with axes, felling trees and cutting 
them into logs, and in less than half an hour we 
had such a line of works erected as not only 
would save the lives of our own men, but en- 
able them to repulse any number that might 
come against us. The Forty-Fjurth N. Y. also 
threw up works at the same time. Whether 
breastworks were erected or by tbe troops on 
our riiiht, I never knew ; but if they had taken 
tbe precaution to do so it is probable that they 
would have made a more successful resistance. 
It was at this time that Gen. Butterfield sent 
down word to Col. McLane that he wanted him 
to hold the position. "Tell Gen. Butterfield 
he need'nt have sent me any stich orders," re- 
plied McLane : " I mtend to hoM it." 

'I he mornmg was now well nigh gone and 
thehotsuu was approaching tbe meridian. The 
enemy had taken time to reconnoitre, and get 
his troops into position, and had made his ad- 
vance with great caution, feeling his way at 
every step. Havins; formed a line in a belt of 
woods near Gaines' house, they advanced at 
charged bayonets and with a yell, upon one of 
our old camps, (containing a few sick and 
wounded soldiers) whose capture they an- 
nounced with a shout of triumph. This suc- 
cess so elated them that they pressed forward, 
expecting to reap another golden harvest in the 
capture perhaps, of Porter's corps. 

We were first made sensiljle of their approach 
by showers of bursting shells, which they 
poured into the woods where we lay, eviJently 
with the intention of drawing the fire of our 
bitteries and ascertaining their strength and 
position. Under cover of this fire they ad- 
vanced in solid column, with their skirmishers 
deployed .several hundred yards in front. It 
now became evident that tbe principal attack 
was going to be made along the lines of our 
briga<le; for, if they could succeed in crushing 
us, our left flank would be turned, tnd tbe 
whole corps forced back toward the Pamunky 
Hud cut off fr* ni the restoi the army. We had 
thrown out skirmishers in the early part of the 
day, those of the Eighty-Third consisting of 
company A, under command of Capt. Sigler 
and Lieut, l). P. Jones. Our skirmishers kept 
those of the enemy at bay until three o'clock 
in the afternoon, whm, being exhausted with 
heat and a good deal fatigued, and their amiuni- 
lion expended, they were relieved by Company 
B, under the conunand of Captain Morris. 
Captain Morris bad not been at the front more 
(ban five minutes, before lie was severely 
wounded and carried to the rear. The enemy 
now began to press forward, advancing all the 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



41 



while under the heavy fire nf our siege guns 
across the river. In a few niinuies our 
skirtni-hers were driven in. Our ln^-n, iiav- 
ing previoi'.sy thrown off their konpsa'-ks 
and piled tliem up in tlie rtr-ar of the line, 
so as to give tliein the lull use of tlieir litnl,>s, 
sprang: to their niusket-i and took tiieir pla<es 
behind she works. Two int^n fiom eaolj 
company were posted as sh;irp shoo ers, a 
few yards in a vance of the breastworks, 
with orders to pick off the enemy's skir 
mit-hers the moment they made their ap- 
pearance on the brow of tlie hill in our 
front. 

The enemy came on, but was not yet in sight. 
At thi>s eventfal moment of exp>^ctation, an 
ominous silem-e reigned alon^ our entire line, 
as is apt to be the case on such occasions, when 
life and dt-aih, victory and defeat, are pioised in 
the balance of fate. Col. Mctjane, standing 
near the centre of the regiment, beneath the 
shade of a wile-spreading heecii, told the men 
that they must hold this position to tlie la t. 
Inspired by the courage of their leader, they 
resolved never to he driven from it, and riKht 
Well did they ktep theii resolution. We had 
received orders to await till the enemy camein 
full sight, and then to give them a single and 
well directed volley along the whole line ai 
once. At last th* y appeared on the brow of the 
hill, wi!h their banners flying, pressing forward 
like brave and devoted men into the very jaws 
of destruction ; when sudilenly, as if trom the 
throats of ten thousand engines of death, iheie 
burst from both front and rear line, an<l from 
the bntteries above, a living sheet of Are, and 
an overwhelming tempest of iron and lead. 
Under the shock of this tempest the solid col- 
umns ot the enemy quivere i like a reed shaken 
in the wind. Huge gaps were made in their 
ranks, but like brave men they endeavored t > 
close them up and press forward to the charge. 
Their color bearer fell at the tirst volley, but 
some other daring fellow seized the Aug and 
rearing it triumphantly above the smoke of 
battle, fell pierced by a scoreof bullets. Again 
and again was it caught up and the attempt 
made to rally their men to the clurge until Hve 
successive color bearers were shot down be 
neath it. The enemy, torn, mangled and bleed- 
ing, could susain the tempest no longer, atKi 
at last fell back and retreated in confusion over 
the very ground where they had advanced with 
confident expectations of victory. And from 
along our lines there arose one of those long 
shouis of lr;umph, as are to be heard otdy 
on the field of battle. It was at ths moment 
that General Butterfield came along the lines, 
with hat off' and sword in hand, encourati- 
ing the men and commending them for their 
gal ant behavior. Halting amidst the men 
of the Eighty-Third, he exclaimed, " Boys, 
if they come upon you again, I wa it vou 
to give it to them ! you are just the boys 
that can do it!'''' This was answered by 
another shout, and the men again prepar- 
ed themselves for another onset of the 
enemy. 

Having at last rallied their flying and de- 
moralized troops, their officers again urged 
them on to a second charge. But they had no 
sooner come in sight than they were again re- 
ceived with such a vol ey as sent them reeling 
a second time to the rear. Again did they 
rally for a third and final effoit against our 
line, and again were they driven back. They 



never sippeared again over the brow of that 

faial hill.« 

During the intervals between these several 
repulses and attacks of the enemy, our men 
'lad leaped (iver the breisiw. >rks, and following 
up the fiyingeneiny, ciptured seveial prisoners. 
Otheis came in of their own will. Among 
the number was a strange looking character, a 
citizen, who said i'.e was a Nortliern man by 
birth, and had seizpd the opporninity, during 
this m ivement to e-eat'e frf)m Richmond and 
pass tliri>Ui;h the rtbel lines into ours. For 
fear that he might prove to be a spy, he was 
sent under guard to the rear. During the dis- 
aster wnich followed, the guards had enough 
to do to save themselves, and the prisoners 
were all necessarily suffered to escape. 

Let us now for a few moments leave the 
E'ghty-Third, reposing upon the well earned 
laurels of a thrice gained victory, and pass 
along further up the lines, and see how the tide 
of battle rolled in that quarter. Tlie enemy, 
failing to force our from and to turn our left 
flank, now directed their efforts against our 
nyrht and centre ; and had the troops resisted 
their attacks as heroically as d d the Third 
Brigade, we should have won the dav, and 
should not have been forced to chronicle one of 
the worst disasters that has befallen our arms. 

The story is briefly told. The eni^my had 
pressed the entire line during the day in order 
to find its weakest point, and had been repulsed 
at every attack. He had been driven from the 
extreme left and from the extreme riyht, and 
he now massed his c )lumns and hurled them 
against the centre, immediately to the left of 
which the brigades of Gen. (iritfin and Gen, 
Martindale were posted. Martindale's brigade 
not being so well protected by works, and 
being overpowered by numbers, gave way. 
This left the right of our brigade exposed to 
the next aitack of the enemy. But as a heavy 
body of woods intervened, we were not aware 
of the retreat on our right, and even if we had 
Iieen we should have stood our ground until 
we had been ordered to leave the field. 

The painful truth had, however, some time 
before began to break upon our minds that all 
was not going well on the riyht. The first no- 
tice servetl upon us was an entilading fire from 
the enemy's artillery, which began to pour up- 
on us, from the direction of <iur own troops. 
One shot came hissing and whirling into our 
midst, killing one man and severely wounded 
another. A. hundred more, less fatal, followed, 
making the woods hideous with tiie roar of 
tiieir constant explosions. We were growing 
almost certain that the tide of battle was 
atiainst us on the right. Had our men main- 
lained their lines unbroken, the enemy could 
never have wheeled his artillery into position, 
within a few yards of them, and be^^an 'o pour 
such an enfilading fire Uf)()n the left. But still 
no news came, and the density of the woods, 
and the distance, prevented our witnessing the 
conflict. Where was our Commanding Gene- 
ral ? Why, if our riaht bad been driv. n back 
and a general rout commenced, whv had orders 
not been sent us to wi hdraw, b-fore the four 
regiments ©four brigade should beoompelled to 



* Accord in? to a rebel narrative, the troops onpos- 
ert to our Division on this occasion were the Brig- 
ades of Wilcox, Feat t:ersione and Pryor, iidonglng 
to Loiitst reefs t "orps. As Wilcox occupied the 
extreme rUht; of the rebel line, Ids t'oops were 
probably the ones that Httacked nnr Bri«a e and 
were three times drivtn back, as above related. 



42. 



Judson's History of 



■withstand the H^sault of tlie whole rebel armyf 
C >ine weal, (V)riie woe, we were (letermirie<i to 
Stand ourgrouiidand tight to the la>*t before we 
Wiu'd retreat wiihoul an order or retire in- 
gloriously from the field. 

Our suspicion-) wer-^ snon confirmed, Viy proof 
too s'ron^ to admit of further doubt, that Mar 
liridale's Brigade, on our immediate rijfht, had 
given way before the pressure of the enemy's 
assault. This was observed by the men on the 
riafbt of the regiment. Our riglit flank was 
now exposed and liie rt^bels were comuig down 
upon us. Lieuf. White had been the first to go 
and notify Col. McLane of the approaching 
dangers, several minutes before, and at this 
moment the Adjutant, who was posted on ih^ 
riiiht and saw the enemy coming, ran down to 
Col. McLane at the centre, and informed him 
that Marti ndale's Brigade had given way and 
that our flank was in danger of immed ate 
attack McLane, having unbounded confi- 
dewce in these troops, refused to believe the 
report, siylng that the Sixty-Second would 
never give way ; and while ilys conversation 
was going on, the riiji t of the regiment was 
being thrown into confusion by the rebels who 
were advancing upon it. The truth was no 
longer to be resisted. We had been left to fight 
the batth alone, and we .esolvedto fi^jht it oui. 
We must chantie front at once and meet the 
enemy ace to face, before a well directed volley 
shonhi shiver our ranks into pieces. In a 
m omen' the regiment was ficed about, and at 
a doube quick I'o. med line of battle, perpendic 
ular to our lir>t line; what was our rear 
rank now making our front rank and facing to 
the north. 

There was something at this stage of the 
battle, in the hearts and resolutions of the men 
of the Kigtiiy Third, that approai hed the sub 
limw. Without a commanding general, without 
a regiment to siippor. them, ihe rest of the 
army worsted and driven from the field, and 
theenemy closinic by thousands around them, 
you shdl imagine them like so many lions 
brought to bav, crouching back and stiffening 
up tlieir sinews for a desperate spring at the 
throats of their assailants. 

The line had scirc>-ly formed befo''e the 
enemy were up n us and the tiring commenc- 
ed, in iact, they had approached so near that 
they had opened upon us before we were fairly 
in position. But not a man left tlie ranks, not 
a man quailed at the post of his duty. The 
rebels had advanced wiiliout onler, and some 
of them came within thirty leet of our line 
and, takiUi stielter behincJ the trees, poured a 
destructive fire into our ranks. In a moment 
more we had hurled a shower of bullets into 
their adsaiicing columns, and given them a 
bloody check. They had intended to charge 
upon us and drive us out of the woons. Now 
the conflict became a'most hand to harid, and 
the cra.sh of miisikelry was absoltitely a()pal- 
ling. But the legions of the enemy could not 
drive the Kighty- third an inch from its posi 
lion. In our first three encounters we had lost 
bu' few m n, but now they began to fail thick 
and fast around uw. The officers, exposed 
equally with the men to this murderous fire, 
eticoura^ed them n"ver to yiel i an inch, and 
the men vied witn each other in their sirife for 
the palm of heroism. One brave boy of six- 



t It s said that Gen. Butterfl dd sent an aid or an 
ord rl/ to noti y tiie regra mts to withdraw, and 
that he wa^ iciUed on the vtAy. 



teen, who was knocked down by a crushing 
wound in th« head, was seen to grasp his mus- 
ket and aft mpt repeatedly to ri.se, as if deter- 
mined to fight while the ebb of life lasted. A 
built^f piercing tiie : reastof Col. McLane, pros- 
trated him np<.n the ground, and in a lew mo- 
ments ourgallant Chiettain had died a warrior's 
death. A moment more Major ^aghel fell, 
s ricken with the fragment of a shell, and gave 
up the ghost ; Lieut. Col. Vincent, having been 
removed the day before, prostrated with a viol- 
ent fever, the command devolved upon Capt. 
Campbell. In a few moments more, the ene- 
my, unable longer to withstand the terrible fire 
of our men, with his columns routed, shattered 
and iileeding, had retreated from the field ; 
and in tiiteen minutes from the time the 
battle commenced, not a rebel was to be seen 
in our front. For the fourth time had the 
H ighty-TLird repulsed and driven the enemy 
f'om the field, and, like true heroes, whose 
spirils soared higher as dangers pressed around 
them, they girded up their loins and prepaied 
themselves for a fifth and final encounter. 

As 1 have before said, we had formed for this 
desperate strugg e in haste ; for the rebels were 
(•lose upon us before we were fully aware of 
their sue -esses upon the right. In fact the of- 
ficers were busy forming fl.e ranks when they 
received the first volley of the enemy's fire; 
and, as no orders could be heard above the rat- 
le of the musketry, eich man bf'came his own 
officer and fought on his own score. Both dur- 
ing and after firing, the ranks had become dis- 
oidnred, and, af^prehending that an attack 
would soon be made from another direction, 
Capt. Campbell at once marched the regiment 
by the nghi flank to the open field, andtorraed 
toe ranks again in solid line of battle. This 
was the third time we had formed during the 
dav. Our first had faced to the west and we 
had driven them from that front like chatf be- 
fore the wind. Our second had faced to the 
north, and we had swept thetn from before us 
there. Our third was formed facing to i he east. 
We had fought all around the bush. We were 
now in the open country. We could see the 
foe ere he should be upon us. That was all we 
wanted, a fair fight and an open field, and a 
chance to see whereaud whatwe wereto strike. 
We had not long to wait before the opportunity 
was given us. 

Ihe Sixteenth Michigan, now under com- 
mand of Major Welch, Had formed on the pro- 
longation of our line, with an iniervalof a hun- 
dred and fifi V yards between the two reginenfs. 
Major Von Vegesack, a German officer ofGen- 
eral Butterfield's staf^', came gaboping up an J, 
as the representative of the commanding Gen- 
eral, was about to assume the responsibility of 
diierting our movements. He knew the dan- 
gers surrounding us, and ordered a retreat. 
He directed Capt. Campbell to go to the Six- 
teenth and the commander to follow the Eighty- 
Third. As Campbell approached the Sixteenth, 
Major Welch tan out and in the blaze of enthu- 
siasm shouted, "Campbell, haven't we done 
splendid?" The men of the sixteenth lespond- 
ed lo the sentiment with lliree rousing cheers. 
At tint moment two regiments of theenemy 
appeared in our front, coming up over the rise 
of ground, and marching in coluuins by divis- 
ion. Their main force was behi d the hill, in 
Ihe woods in their rear, and out of .sight. No 
sooner had they discovered us than they de- 
ployed into line, one regiment facing the 
Kighty- Third and the other the Sixteenth. It 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



43 



was then that there arose in the ranks of the 
Eighty- Third, one of tho-^e mompnts of douhi 
and uncertainty which often perplex the best 
soldiers, in the hour of battle. They did rrnt 
know who the opposing f>rces were. Thes 
were too far off to distinguish thetu by theii 
uniforms and banners, and they had come from 
the direction in which our troops at one time 
were suppose.i to have been posted. In this 
perplexity they hesitated to tire for fear of tir 
ing upon our own men. The same doubi 
seized both officers and men. They suspectefi, 
yet doubled, that it was the enemy. At tha 
moment Von Vegesack, giving a white luna 
kerchief to Lieut. White, directed him to go out 
under a flag of truce and ascertain who thej 
were. 

Placing the handkerchief on the point of his 
sword and holding it in the air, White started 
out boldly upon his perilous undertaking. He 
had advanced but halfway between the two ar 
mies when he was met by the Colonel and Ad- 
jutant of the regiment, who asked him if he 
had come to surrender. 

" Who are you ?" said White in return. 

*' The Eleventh South Carolina," was the 
reply. 

" The Eighty-Third Pennsylvania never sur- 
renders to South Carolinians," retorted White 
defiantly. 

" then what do you want?" said the rebel 
commander. 

" I have come to demand that you surrender 
unconditionally to the forces of the Uuitej 
States," 

Such an extraordinary demand at once put 
an end to the conference; for had the rebel 
forces been mude up of old men and cripples, 
women and children, they would never have 
surrendered to such a handful of men, sup 
ported as they were by thousands and flushei* 
with the triumph of victory. Nothing remained 
now but for the parlies to return to their coi?;- 
mands an I open the ball at oncp. Under 
pledge from the rebel Colonel that they would 
not fire until he had returned, Vvbite com- 
menced running towards the Eighty-Third. 
The rebel officers ran back to their lines, and 
being nearer reached them first. White had 
scarcely made half the way, when lie heard the 
click of a thousand muskets in his rear, and 
on looking around and seeing that they were 
getting ready to fire, instantly threw himsell 
upon the ground. In a moment more a storm 
of leaden hail whistled over him. In another 
moment a more furous storm whistled over 
him from the opposite direction ; for it was the 
custom of the Eightv-Third to return a blow 
the in.stant it was received. Capt. Campbell, 
observing, too, the motions of the enemy, had 
ordered the men to lie down and commence 
firing. The action now became hot, fierce and 
determined. Our men, nerved by the same 
resolution which had four times driven the 
enemv before them, fought with desperation 
Von Vegesack, seeing the rebel hordes gather- 
ing in the distance, again ordered the Eighty- 
Third to retreat. The orders fell upon them 
like so much idle wind : for now the men, with 
the stain of blood upon their garments, and 
snuffing the sulphurous smoke of battl*^, were 
fast becoming inflamed with the ferocity of 
tigers. Seeing White prostrate upon the 
ground, and supposing him shot down with 
the flag of truce still waving upon his sword, 
the victim of rebel treachery, and moved by 
the sympathy of companions-in-arms, some of 



them advanced to the front, sbouti-'g, " They 
have killed White; let's charge! damn 'em, 
hoys, let's charge them !" Kemaining fl^it 
upon the ground, the leaden hail hurtling over 
or plowing tip the earth around him dnringa 
greater portion of the figot. White seized the 
idea, while the field was covered with smoke, 
of making his way back to the regiment ; and 
•rawling, partly upon his hands and knees, 
md partly upju his belly, he at last, after 
much exertion, gained the ranks in safety, 
wliere he appeared to the surprised vision of 
he men as one who had just arisen from the 
dead. 

The enemy in our front had received a check 
but not a repulse, and his tire now began grad- 
ually to slacken. Meanwhi.e the Sixteenth, 
which had been heavily engaged with the reg- 
iment in their front, ihtir ranks decimated by 
the struggle of the day, began to waver, and 
fall back pursued by the enemy. This lett our 
right exposed to the attack of the regiment 
which were pressing the Sixteenth. We should 
hen have been surrounded on all sides, right 
flank, left flank, front and rear. Seeing the 
Janger, Capt. Campbell ordered the regiment 
to fall back into the woods, take position i gain 
behind their old line of defences, a. id prepare 
tor another attack. They fell back in good or- 
ier, and on reaching the works found ihe For- 
y Fourth still holding ih'^ir position, under 
•omrnand of Lt, Col. Rice. "Can we hold them 
troin behind the defences? ' inquired Campbell 
of Col. Kice. "I think we can," replied the 
alter. The Eighty-Third were formed nehind 
ihe works, but facing now ,n the direction op- 
posite to our line of battle in the morning, 
Scarcely had they taken position when the 
ivoods began to swarm with the enemy pres- 
sing upon flank, front and rear, tiring as they 
advanced. 

'' What is to be done?" said Ca npbell to 
Rice. "Skedaddle is the wotd !" was there- 
ply. It was now no longer a matter of courage 
or of duty to attempt to withstand the num- 
oers that were closing upon us. It was down- 
right rashness. Three gallant regiments, the 
Eighty-Third, the Forty-Fourth, and the Six- 
teenth, had held at bay the rebel army for 
nearly two hours after tlie whole corps had left 
ihe field. They (ought tu the last motnent, and 
lothe hist ditch, and had covered themselves 
with glory. They had won the crown of hero- 
ism, and it was now no dishonor to save them- 
selves by flight. The men saw, too, the dan- 
gers thickening around them, but not one of 
them stirred a foot from the ranks, until the 
order to retreat had been given. 

That order was now given, and the men be- 
gan to scatter and save themselves in the best 
way they could. To have led them in column 
across the open flats of the Chickahominy, 
nearly a mile in width, would have been a 
more orderly but a more dangerous experi- 
ment. It would have exposed the ranks to an 
enfilading and destructive firefrom theenemy's 
batteries. Accordingly they broke, each man 
for himself, in the direction of the river. Now 
was witnessed a scene, the like of which I hope 
never to look \ipon again. The sun had gone 
down amid the lurid smokeofbiltle,and dark- 
ness was fast settling uof)n ihe field where lay 
our brave boys stieiched in death, or writhing 
in agony, wiih mangled limbs and bleeding 
wounds. Here and there were seen the fugi- 
tives running towards the river, but scarcely 
seeming to know where to find a bridge, over 



44 



Judson's History of 



wbich to escape, some wounded in the head, 
some ill the arms, some in the bodv, and some 
limping along wiib gl'Mstly wounds in the l^gs 
and still clinging to th>'ir muskeis The env- 
ma's artillery seeing the i-i>ut, wheeled two 
batteries of twelve pieces into position on the 
open field and poured a raking cross-tire along 
the plain. 'J"he fragments of bursting shells 
fell in every direction around. But thanks to 
our having scattered in retreat, they did but 
little execution. Many of the men struck int<. 
the swamps where the woods were nearest, and 
far above the bridge, in order to escane the 
cannonading and, beconlnglost and bewildered 
in the frightful morasst-s, were shot down oi 
taken prisoners the next day. The greater 
number ran towards the bridge and, on arriv- 
ing there, found the planks torn up, and the 
bridge partly destroyed. It wassaid that Mar 
tindale's brigade, had passed over it before us, 
and supposing themselves to be the rear of the 
corp^, had torn up the planks in order to pre 
vent the pursuit of the enemy. Some rushed 
acrossthesleepers, some jumped jntoihe stream 
attempting to sv'im or wade. The rebels ob- 
served this and directed their tire upon the 
bridge. The fragments of their shells killed 
some, and wounded others, and their bodies 
fell into the stream, and floated down the cur- 
rent. At la^t having gained the other shore, 
Capt. Campbell got together, and reformed the 
rerhains of the glorious Eighty-Third, Dark- 
ness had closed upon the scene, but for half an 
hour afterwards, the heavens were illuminated 
by the flashes of the enemy's artillery, and the 
solitudes of the Chickahominy reverberated 
with their echoes. One by one their guns ai 
last grew silent ; and as the regiment marched 
to the rear, the sullen roar of their cannon died 
away in the distance, and. save the groans ol 
the wounded, silence again reigned over th< 
bloody field of Gaines' Mill. 

Thus ended one of the most bloody and dis 
astrous baities in which the Eighty-Third have 
been engaged. Ont of five hundred and fifi> 
men, with which they went into the action, two 
hundred and sixiy-tive were killed, wounded 
and taken prisoners. But be it remembered to 
their honor, scarcely a man was taken who was 
not so disabled by wounds as to prevent him 
from making his escape. 

In connection with this event it may not be 
out of place to make men' ion of those officers 
who bore a prominent part in the battle and 
who are now no more — Col. McLaue, Major 
Naghel and Lieut, White. 

Col. McLane was born in Wilmington, Del- 
aware, on the 24lh of August, 1820, and was in 
his f>»)rty- first year at the time of his death. He 
came to Erie county in 1829, and afterwards 
raised and drilled a company well known as 
the Wayne Grays. When the Mexican war 
broke out he raised a company at Fort Wayne, 
Indiana, where he resided temporarily, joined 
the First Indiana Volunteers and served dur- 
ing the Mar. The regiment saw but iittle ac- 
tive service, and was motly engagd in doing 
garrison duty at Matainoras and Monterey. 
He afterwards organized and drilled the Wayne 
Guards at Erie, and was captain of that com 
pany at the commencement of the rebellion. 
His subsequent history has been recorded in 
theprec. eJing pages of this book. He had been 
a soldier at heart from his youth up, and the 
moment an opportunity ottered to gratify his 
long cherished ambition, he went to the field, 



and remained at the post of duty until he fell 
and died the death of a patriot and a hero. 

Col. McLane was buried by the rebels on the 
baltle-tield, near the spot where he fell. For 
n.-arly three years his remains slumbered un- 
disturbrd. In May, 1865, while the army was 
on the march from Richmond to Washington, 
(;<'l. C. R Rogers, with a detachment of men 
from the Eighty -Third, went to the field of 
Gaines' Mill, disinterred his remains and sent 
them forward to his trieuds in Erie. The whole 
population turned out to honor them with an 
appropriate burial. On the 19th, amidst a vast 
concourse of people, they were consigned to 
their final resting place in the Cemeterv at that 
place, with all the honors of war and with all 
the respect and reverence of a sorrowing mul- 
titude who claimed him as their own. It was 
meet and becoming that the bones of the hero 
-ihould repose where he had been the first to un- 
furl the flag of his country to the breeze, and 
where liis big, manly voice was first beard 
calling on the young men of Northwestern 
Pennsylvania to rally around him in its de- 
fence, fie sleeps the sleep that knows nr, wak- 
ing; but his influence will be felt for ages to 
come, and the martial enthusiasm, which he 
was the first to awaken in the hearts ot the 
young men of that county will kindle, as 
with the touch of fire from Heaven, whenever 
duty calls them again to the defence of their 
country and its flag. The tomb of McLane is 
silent and its portals are closed to all save the 
hand of Time ; but these portals will open 
and his spirit will again stalk abroad over the 
land, whenever a traitor dares to trample upon 
the laws of our country, or a foreign foe dares 
lo pollute its soil with his tread. 

Major Louis Naghel was a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and had formerly lived at Erie, but 
at the time of his joining the Eighty-Third, 
was a citizen of Indiana. He had been an old 
friend of the Colonel, and a member of the old 
Wayne Grays, and at his request he bad been 
designated by theoflJcer.* of the Eighty-Third 
as Major, and having been accordingly com- 
missioned, joined the regiment at Hall's Hill. 
He was a man of a clever and kind disposition, 
and an officer who had never flinched from his 
duty, nor quailed in the hour of trial. He had 
too much, however, of the milk of human 
kindness for either astern disciplinarian or a 
rusrged soldier. 

Lieu. Plympton A. White was a native of 
Erie county, and at the commencement of the 
war was a student at law at Erie. He enlisted 
in McLane's three months' regiment as a pri- 
vate, and as soon as that regiment was muster- 
ed out of the service, he again enlisted in Com- 
pany D, of the Eighty-Third, and was elected 
and commissioned Second Lieutenant. After 
Gaine.s' Mill he took part in the battles of Mal- 
vern Hill, Bull Run, and Fredericksburg, at 
the first of which he received a wound in the 
hand. While at fetoneman's Station he was 
transferred to th^ Signal Corps, and on the 
17th of June, 1863, while on duty at the 
Point of Rocks, on the Potomac, he was 
taken prisoner and carried to Richmond. He 
was one of the number who dug a tunnel and 
eflected their escape from Libby Prison on the 
9th of Febrmry, 1864. He succeeded in getting 
some twenty miles from Bichmond, but on the 
four h day he was discovered by a farmer who, 
with the aid of negroes and bloodhounds, ran 
him down, re-captured end carried him back to 
Libby Prison. On returning he was confined 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



45 



in a dark, damp cell for five days as a punish- 
ment for his temerity in attempting to escape. 
On the 7th of May he was sent to Maoon, Ga., 
ani having being a few weeks after taken siik, 
•was remove 1 to a hospital at C^arleston, where 
he died on the 13th of September, 1864. Lieut. 



White was a youn^ man of decided bravery, 
tnd of a veiy original turn of mind. His 
originality, in fact, was of such a positive stamp 
that tive minutes conversation with him would 
satisfy any one that he never could have bor- 
rowed a single idea from any other person. 



46 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER IX. 



The Retreat to the James River. Supporting the Batteries at Turkey Bend. The Battle of 
Malvern Hill. In Cam}') at Harrison's Landing. Expedition to the south side of the James. 
Commencement of the march down the Peninsula. 



The Eighty-Third and Forty-Fourth, hav- 
ing been re-formed on the otiier side of the 
Chickahominy, as we have before stated, 
were inarched by their respective commanders 
inio the fortifications occupied by Gen. Smith's 
division, on a hill which overlooked the field 
of Gaines' Mill and from which the siege guns 
had played upon the enemy when they ad- 
vanced to the first attack. Having made this 
disposition, Col. Kice and Capt. Campbell went 
down to Gen. Smith's headquarters for the pur 
pose of procuring rations for the men ; for it 
must be remembered that the Eighty-Third 
bad not only thrown aside their knapsacks, but 
also most of their haversacks at Gaiues' Mill, 
in order to allow thm perfect freedom of ac- 
tion during the impending battle; and having 
been driven from the field before they could 
recover them, the men were now without any- 
thing to eat or to shelter them from the inclem- 
encies of the weather. They were referred to 
Gen. Smith's quartermaster who occupied a tent 
adjoining that of the General, and thither they 
went. While conversing with the quartermas- 
ter, they overheard Geo. Smith say he was glad 
that two regiments had come to his division, 
as he expected to take the front the next morn- 
ing. The two commanders, not thinking it 
desirable to again put their regiments in the 
front, after such an engagement as they had 
experienced on that day, immediately started 
out on foot with the intention of finding the 
brigade, division or corps commander, whom 
they had not seen lor several hours previous to 
the termination of the fight at Gaines' Mill. 
Unable, however, to find any trace of their 
whereabfuts, thej'- endeavored to make their 
way to the headquarters of Gen. McClellan. 
At midnight they found where the headquar- 
ters of Gen. McClellun had been that morning, 
"which was about five miles to the tear of 
where the two regiments then lay. On arriving 
there they found that McClellan's headquarters 
had been removed farther to the rear durinsc 
the day, and that nothing but the telegraph 
office belonging to the headquarters remained. 
They endeavored to have the operator telegraph 
home that they were safe, but he refused on 
the ground that it was reserved entirely for 
government purposes. Discouraged in their 
attempts to find any of the commanding Gen- 
erals, they sat down to write letters home, and 
while writing General Butterfield and general 
McClellan entered the tent. " Where is Mc- 
Laoe?" asked Butterfield. Campbell replied 
that he had been killed in the action at Gaines' 
Mill. ♦' Where is Naghel ? " "Killed also." 



"Who is in command of the regiment?" 
Campbell replied that he was now in command 
and remarked that this had been a severe day 
on the Eighty-Third. " Yes," said Butterfield, 
"you have covered yourselves with glory!" 
Rice and Campbell then told Butterfield of the 
condition of their regiments, and that they 
were aoout to be placed in the front in the 
morning. The General promised that they 
should be relieved and sent to join the brigade 
in the morning, which promise was performed. 

Let us now tjo back to the two regiments. 
The Eighty-Third and Forty-Fourth, having 
gone into the trenches, along Gen. Smith's line, 
remained there about an hour, when they were 
relieved by some of his troops, who had just 
came in, and then tt.ey went back to an open 
field where they bivouacked for the night. la 
the morning before daylight a firing com- 
menced in the front, and the Adjutant came 
running down the line, calling upon the mea 
to fall in, as the enemy were about to make an 
attack. The men were out of ammunition, but 
having in a few minutes been supplied, they 
were again prepared to be led wherever their 
presence should be required. The attacking 
party were soon driven back and order re- 
stored. The men again laid down and remained 
till daylight, when they arose and cooked a 
scanty break last. Just then an Aid came from 
GtrU. Porter's headquarters, with orders to 
inove, when they marched away and in a few 
hours joined the rest of the brigade at General 
McClellan's headquarters. 

After they had been there a couple of hours, 
an aff"air happened which created quite a panic 
among the troops. Some regiments, whose 
pieces were still loaded, went into the woods 
and discharged Ihem by volleys. This created 
an alarm in camp, and the troops all flew to 
arms, formed line of battle and got in readiness 
to repel an attack of the enemy. Soon, how- 
ever, the cause of alarm was explained. They 
again stacked arms, laid down to rest, and re- 
mained there till tne afternoon of that day. 

About two o'clock in the afternoon the two 
regiments were ordered down to protect a ford 
on the Chickahominy, about two miles distant. 
On arriving there they were ordered to march 
to Savage Station. They halted in a corn-field, 
a little beyond the station, and bivouacked for 
the night. During the whole night a heavy 
rain fell, and the men had to lie in the mud, 
only a few having blankets or tents to shelter 
them from the pitiless pelting of the storm. 
The next morning, as they were making prep- 
arations to pitch a camp, expecting to remain, 



Eighty -Third Regiment, P. V. 



47 



orders came to take up the line of march to- 
wards White Oiik Swamp. It must b*^ remem- 
bered that as yet tiie troops hi\>\ no idea that 
the army was on the retreat, and were encour- 
aged in the delusion that they wt-re makinfra 
strategic movement hy the lelt flank, towards 
Richmond. They marched that day till two 
o'clock in the afternoon, and, having hailed in 
a piece f)f woods in White Oak Swamp, threw 
oiit skirtnishers about a mile to the front, for 
the purpose of reconnoitering. The skirmish- 
ers returned with the intelligence that no ene- 
my was to be seen in that direction. There 
they remained until sundown, and as they 
were making preparations to bivouac, orders 
came to move forward. They marched up a 
road thickly woo led on both sides, apparently 
on a reconnoisance. From the uncertainty 
which governed their movements, it seemed 
that the guide had mistaken his way ; for they 
were halted frequently, and once they halted, 
about-faced, marched to the rear and took a 
new road. While going along this road, sharp 
picket tiring was heard in ihoir I'ront, in the 
direction of Richmond. This was at twelve 
o'clock at night. They were again halted, and 
just as the order was given to fall in again, and 
move forward, the alarm was given that the 
rebel cavalry were upon them. In a moment 
more the clattering of hoofs was heard and for 
a while the greatest confusion prevailed. The 
men rushed into the woods, right and left, or 
seized their guns and got ready for an attack of 
the invisibleenemy. vSome tired off their pieces 
into the air, and some stood at a charge bayonet. 
The night was intensely dark, and no one 
could distinguish any object before him. The 
troops soon discovered, however, that the 
alarm was occasioned by a couple of mules 
which had broken loose from their moorings, 
and, the night being dark and still, the clatter- 
ing of their hoofs had sounded like a number 
of troopers galloping along the road. After the 
alarm was over the men betjan to look in the 
dark for their things, each accusing the other 
of being panic-stricken and running for the 
woods. But amidst all the confusion which 
attended this alarm, it is to be remembered to 
their credit that none of them threw away 
their arms. 

The troops then continued their march on the 
road leading to Richmond, and tinally halted 
at a point which they were told was three and 
a half miles from the city. While they were 
resting. General Porter went out with an order- 
ly to reconnoitre and came upon the enemy's 
picket^. He was immediately challenged, but 
he escaped by turning his horse into i he woods 
Being absent longer than was expected. Gen 
Butlertield sent out an aid in s>^arch of him. 
Being challenged by the same piirkets, the aid 
wheeled his horse in an instant and rode hack 
to Buttertield's headquarters. It was then 
supposed that Porter had been captured. In a 
short time, however, he came in and gave or- 
ders to about face and return upon the same 
road over which they had come. Wnen day- 
light came they hallel near the same place 
from which they had started, worn out and fa- 
tigued by the hard night's march. The men 
laid down to rest, but had not lain there half 
an hour when Gen. Bulterfield rode throuirh 
the Brigade and gave orders to fall in imuie 
diately. The troops hnr iedly fell in, and took 
up the line of march towards the James River 
and halted at Turkey Bend at eleven o'clock in 
the morning, in sight of the gunboats. The 



weather being very hot and the men having no 
tents, ihey were ordered to bnihi bowers from 
ihe pine trees which srewin abundance, and to 
make thtmselvfs comf >rtHble, as it was sup- 
posed they were to rest for a day or two in that 
p. ace. 

It seemed as if the whole army were about to 
mass and go into camp on the flats at that 
place, whf>n the order came for the troop-s to 
fall in and take position on a hill between City 
Point and Richmond. Why City Point was 
named, it was hard to conjecture, as it was on 
the opposite side of the James, several miles 
distant. This was on the afternoon of Monday 
theSOih. The men fell in wiih alacriiy. Aids 
flew in every direction, and it was supposed 
from all appearances, that something grand 
was about to take place. The regiments were 
formed with their brigades, and the bands were 
posted at the head of each regiment, and order- 
ed to play the most spirit-stirring airs. When 
they had all been formed. General McClellan 
rode along the lines. As he came in front of 
each brigade, cheer after cheer went up, show- 
ing the enthusiasm and invincible courage of 
that whole army. The troops then retraced 
their steps over the same road they had come, 
for the distance of a mil**, when they filed to the 
right and ascended a hill, then tiled to the left, 
moving along the brow of the hill. While the 
brigade was marching leisurely along, the ene- 
my's artillery all at once opened heavily upon 
them, apparently from the road they had just 
left. In.-^tantly General Griffin, commanding 
the First Brigade, and an experienced artillery 
officer, rode along and ordered his old battery 
into position to repel the attack of the invisi- 
ble foe. Our brigade was immediately put in 
line to suppjrt the battery. Every preparation 
was rapidly made for a battle, signals were 
made to the gunboats to open fire, and soon 
their tremendous shells were seen careering 
through the air in the direction of the enemy's 
batteries. This was the advance of the rebel 
army. In half an hour they were driven from 
tneir position and compelled to fall back upon 
their main body. This was what is called the 
batile of Turkey Bend and was chiefly an ar- 
tillery duel. After the tight was over General 
Griffin, who had been placed in command of 
the picket line, rode up and asked for the 
Eighty-Third. The regiment was then moved 
out and posted as pickets on the left of the line 
on which the battle of Malvern Hill was fought 
on the next day. 

'I he battle of Malvern Hill was one of the 
severest in which the Eighty-Third have been 
engaged. They displayed great bravery on 
the occasion, but it pariook more of the nature 
of that dogged obstinacy, which was to be 
expected from m^n who had encountered 
nothing but hardships and dangers tor the last 
tive nights and davs. There was but little of 
that chivalrous and glorious enthusiasm which 
they exhibited at Gaines' Mill, 'i Ue battle 
itself was more barren of events and less 
protracted, so tar as the Eighty-Third was 
concerned. And yet, as they were much ex- 
posed, they lost heavily as will hereafter be 
seen. 

At daylight, on the morning of the 1st of July 
the Eighty-Third was relieved from picket 
duty, by the Fourth Michigan, and scarcely 
had that regiment been posted, when heavy 
skirmishing with the enemy's pickets com- 
menced along the line. Having marched a 
shori, distance to the rear, the Eighty-Third 



48 



Judson's History of 



halted, cooked a hasty and scanty brfakf-ist, 
and were tljen ordered to advance into a piece 
of woods. About that time the battle opened 
witb heavy artillery on both sides. The posi- 
tion the rei;iment then occupied was on the 
right centre. They reinairind ihe'e about an 
houraiid were ajjain ordered toailvance. About 
this time it was discovered that th« enemy was 
mass ni^ his troops on our lefr. The regiment 
was then moved toward the lefr, in column ot 
divisions, where they were ordered to lie down. 
In aooiher moment a solid shot came bounding 
over the hill and struck a horseiinmediafely in 
Iront of the first division, (ilancing off it ilew 
harmlessly over, and this liiile incident saved 
perhaps a number of our men from being 
killed and woundt^d. 

Here the whole brigade lay under a heavy 
artillery tire, from four in the afternoon until 
about six, when an officer came riding from 
the front in great haste, and called on Gen. 
Butterfield for a regiment. A battery in the 
front were about to be attacked and were with- 
out the proper support. The Eighty-Third 
were at once detailed for this service and started 
for the front on a double quick. On arriving 
there ttiey advanced, in line of battle, a hun- 
dred paces in front ol the battery, just in time 
to save it from capture. The artillerymen had 
already limbered up and got ready to start to 
the rear. A murderous fire was at that instant 
opened on both sides. Here the Eightv-Third 
suffered severely, but having repulsed the as- 
sault, the battery again unlimbered and opened 
with grape and caiinister. As the enemy had 
massed his troops for the charge, the tire of the 
artillery made huge gaps in his advancing 
columns. In a ffW moments the B^orty -Fourth 
came up and formed on our left. The other 
regiments of the brigade formed on our flank 
and rear. The battle now raged with ceaseless 
fury for the space of two liours. Our men. 
though exposed to a galling fire, never fiincht d 
from their position. They loaded and tired so 
fast that every cartridge was expended, and 
their guns became so heated as to unfit them 
for use. Throwing them aside they seized the 
muskets of their fallen comrades, and supplied 
themselves with amunition from their cartridge 
boxes. Some of them fired over a hundred 
rounds apiece. The enemy repeatedly massed 
in the woods and advanced to the charge, but 
every time they came showers of leaden hail 
and iron swept aw.iy and melted down their 
ranks. Three hundred cannon had been ar- 
rayed against them. At one time the results 
of the battle seemed doubtful. The artillery- 
men, having expended their amunition, cut the 
trace chains from their horses, cramniHd them 
into the throats of the cannon, and sent them 
whistling and sweeping through the ranks of 
their assailants. It was now nearly dark. 
The roar of cannon and crishof musketry had 
been incessant for over two hours. The enemy 
could withstand such havoc no longer. His 
lines gave way and he retreated in confusion 
to the woods, ?.nd was there met by a thousand 
ponderous c.nd destructive shells from the gun- 
boats. Our men poured a galling fire into 
them as ihey retreated. At ihat momenl 
Sergeant William Wittich, of the Eiahty- 
Third, seeing one of the enemies' battle flags 
still remaining upon the field, dashed out and 
brought back the flag to our own lines For 
this act of heroism he was promoted to a 
lieutenantcy by order of Gen. Porter. Magru- 
der's corps had oeen baffled, cut to pieces and 



driven back, routed and dem'>ralized. At 
dark the musketry died away, but for an hour 
allerwards the battle raged between the artil- 
lery of both armies. In this battle we lost 
about one hundred and foriy-four, killed and 
wounded, besides the missing. Corpo;al Ames, 
the color bearer, was killed by a l)ullet which, 
at the same time, pierced and splintered the 
flag staff. The c >lors fell and he fell upon them. 
Phey were picked up by Alexander rtogers, of 
Co. F., who waved them over his head, and 
then advanced to the front of the regiment and 
called upon the men to follow him and charge 
upon the eneiTiy. He bore tiie old flag glo- 
riously through a dozen bio idy flelds, and was 
Anally killed in the flrst day's battle in the 
Wilderness on the fifth of May, 1864. 

A little after dark the Tbird Brigade was 
relieved by the Irish Brigade and as they 
were marching to the rear. Gen. Porter rode up 
and asked Capt. Campbell what regiment that 
was. " Itis all that is lelt of the Eighty-Third," 
w: s the reply.* " I am proud of the Eighty- 
Third," said the General, and with that directed 
the Captain to take the men back to a place 
well protected and let them lie down for rest. 
The regiment then moved into a piece of wood 
which they had occupied in the morning ; but 
Hnding it unfit now for bivouacking, they 
•lommenced moving lurther on, when an aid 
overtook them and ordered them back into the 
woods. Shortly after. Porter came up and told 
the Captain commanding that he did not want 
him to go too far to the rear : " for," added he, 
" we must either hold this ground, or to-morrow 
we will be in Richmond." He meant, they 
would be there as prisoners of war if they failed 
to hold the position. On making kno^vn that 
the woods were unfit for camping purposes, he 
ordered the regiment into an open field on the 
the other side of the road. They marched in, 
stacked arms and laid down to rest. They had 
not been there long before a shower of bullets 
came whistling over them. They were then 
moved further to the rear, where they bivou- 
acked and the firing in front soon ceased. 

In about half an hour orders came to send 
out two men from each company to bring in 
the wounded. After the detail had returned, 
they again l>ivouafked, as they supposed for 
the night. Buttherj was no rest for the weary. 
The troops were soon aroused from their 
slumbers and ordered to fall in. Supposing a 
night attack was to be made they fell in with 
alacrity. But they were happily deceived 
when they saw the column heading towards 
ihe rear. They were now on the march towards 
Harrison's Landing. At daylig' t ilcoinmenced 
raining. On they plodded their weary way, 
ihrough the mud knee deep, with the windows 
of the whole heavens opened upon them, and 
arrived at the landing at eleven o'clock in the 
morning. There they baited, overcome with 
sheer exhaustion, these heroic men, the lastsad 
remnants of six days of hunger, fatigue and 
battle, by night and by day; without blankets, 
without shei er tents, without rations, sank 
down in the mud, amidst the rain, and fell 
asleep. Buf after a while large camp fires 
weie built and the men warmed their drenched 
and shivering limbs by their cheerful blazes. 
Rations were soon issued bountifully, each 



* Our liiSS at this battle was atiout forty killed 
and one tiundrtd and ten wounded. A nurriber 
afterwards >'ied ■ f their wouuds. Tne whole regi- 
metit ,-t.^cked between eighty and ninety muskets 
on arriving at Harriaou's Landing. 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



49 



man helping himself. Hot coffee, that grand 
panacea for all the ills that affect the Yankee 
soldier, soon tilled the air with its delicious 
aroma, 'i'he rain, to their great delight, ceased 
to fall, and that night they laid down and 
enjoyed the first undisturbed hour of slumber 
and repose which they had seen during the 
terrible seven days before Hichmond. 

The next morning they arose, refreshed by 
their nights' rest, and prepared tlieir break- 
fasts. The terrible seven days were over, but 
the hour of alarms had not yet passed away. 
Whilst they were eating, a battery suddenly 
opened upon them from the front. The whole 
camp was thrown into a state of excitement. 
The men were immediately ordered to fall in. 
Their guns were rusty with the rain and mud, 
and clogged up by reason of long use without 
cleaning, and their ammunition was all gone. 
They were marched, however, to the front, and 
drawn up in line of battle. Ammunition was 
here distributed among them. They at once 
commenced cleaning and putting their pieces 
in order, and getting ready for the expected 
fight. Our cavalry, on going out, discovered 
a section «f the enemy's artillery, captured it, 
together with the gunners, and the firingceased. 
On being asked where their army was, they 
replied that they did not know. When asked 
what they were doing there, they replied that 
they wanted to know where the * ■■ ■■ * Yankees 
were. As soon as this atiair was over the brig- 
ade was moved into a piece of woods near by. 
There they were ordered to prepare a omp, 
and in the course ot the day they were served 
with a few tents. The next day 'was the fourth 
of July, and they were ordered to prepare for a 
review. They were marched to a large open field 
where the army was drawn up by brigades to 
receive its commander-in-chief. Gen. McClel- 
lan. But the General, having received impor- 
tant information from Gen. Smith, had gone 
out where fortifications were being erected and 
the review did not take place. This was a great 
disappointment to the men, as they had intend- 
ed to present Sergeant Wittich, and the flag he 
he had taken, to Gen. McClellan. But the next 
best thing that could be done, took place. 
The whole of the first division of Porter's corps, 
passed Sergeant Wittich in review, and as each 
regiment passed, they gave three rousing 
cheers for the " brave little Sergeant and his 
flag." After this display was over the troo^DS 
marched back to their camps. 

On the evening of July 4th an election was 
held for field officers, as two vacnncie? had been 
created by the deaths of Col. McLaneand Major 
Naghel. Lieut. Colonel Strong Vincent waselec- 
ted Colonel, Capt. H. S. Campbell, Lieut Colonel, 
and Adjutant Wm. H. Lamont, Mnjor. They 
were accordingly commissioned as such to date 
from the 27th of June, the day of the battle of 
Gaines' Mill. 



There was now no enemy in their front. 
The army needed rest, and they soon subsided 
into the usual routine of camp duties, drdling, 
picketing and standing guard. This state of 
quietude lasted till abuvtt the first of August, 
when an alTair happened that threw the camp 
into some cominotion, and was the cause of 
sending the Third Brigade on a reconnoitering 
expedition to the south side of the James. 

On the night of the 1st, about midnight, the 
camp was suddenly assailed by a heavy artille- 
ry fire from Coggin's Point, on the other side 
of the river. A number of shells were thrown, 
killing and wounding several men and horses 
beiongingtoolherregiments, but fortunately in- 
juring no one belonging to the Eighty-Third. 
The shells went over our camp and fell princi- 
pally among the cavalry in our rear. The fir- 
ing, however, mostly threatened our fleet of 
transports in the river. One of our batteries 
soon opened upon them, and with the a'd of a 
gunboat silenced and drove them from their 
position. The next day the position was occu- 
pied l)y a detachment of our troops. On the 
third day, our brigade crossed over, and that 
night the Eighty-Third occupied a position, as 
pickets, ab( ut half a mile from the river. Dur- 
ing the night an alarm was created by some 
cavalry videttes in front of the picket line, who 
were driven in after firing their carbines at the 
enemy in the dark. The enemy did not follow, 
however, and quiet was again restored along 
the lines. 

The next day the brigade rested. On the 
fifth they went into the woods and commenced 
slashing the timber, in anticipation of an at- 
tack from the enemy. The timber stood upon 
the farm of Edmund Ruffin, who was said to 
have fired the first gun at FortSumpter. Late 
in the afternoon information came that a small 
force of the enemy had collected at a church 
about four miles out. The brigade hastily fell 
in and marched in that direction. On arriving 
there they found that the rebels had disappear- 
ed, and they again returned to camp. 

The brigade staid there five days, and during 
that time they feasted upon the turkeys, chick- 
ens, pigs and sheep, belonging to the farm of 
Ruffin and others. I suspect that some indis- 
criminate and unwarrantable plundering was 
done, which did not meet the approval of the 
commanding General. Some of our literary 
vandals helped themselves rather freely lo the 
books belonging to Ruffin's library. Some of 
these books were to be seen in the regiment 
long afterwards. On the sixth the brigade 
recrossed the river, and returned to their camps 
at Harrison's Landing. On the eleventh they 
were paid off. They remained there until the 
night of the fourteenth, when our corps, which 
took the advance, broke camp and commenced 
its march down the Peninsula, 



50 



Judson's nistorij of 



CHAPTER X. 



March doivn the Peninsula. Arrival at Newport Neivs. Ux> the Potomac to Aequia Creek. Up 
the Rappahannock. March to Manassas. The Battle of Bull Run. In Camp at Hall's Hill. 
At Arlington Heights. 



The campaign before Richmond had proved 
a failure. For nearly six weeks the array had 
lain within five miles of the rebel capital anrl 
accomplished nothing. Tney were now over 
twenty-tive miles from t'iere;'and after the 
losses of the Seven Days were in no condition 
to make another advance. In the meantime 
the rebel authorities, being relieved from 
the pressure in their front, had sent Stonewall 
Jackson with a ht°avy force up the valley, and 
Washington and Maryland were again threat- 
ened. It became necessary, therefore, to with- 
draw the army from the Peninsula in order to 
repel the hordes which were now swarming up 
towards the Happahannock and up the valley 
of the Soenandoah. Gen. Pope had been 
placed in command of the forces in front of 
Washington ; and he wasalrea^ly on the march 
towards the Kapidan, for the purpose of un- 
masking the enemy's movements and checking 
their advance, until sutBcient reinforcements 
from the Army of the Potomac could come to 
his assistance. After leaving the Peninsula the 
army was no longer under the command of 
Gen. McClellan ; he having been assigned to 
the command of the defences of Washington, 
and the various corps commanders having 
been ordered to report to Gen. Pope. And this 
is the way in which it came to pass that Gen. 
Pope bossed thejob at Bull Run. Having sta- 
ted this much, in explanation of our withdraw- 
al from Harrison's Landing, I propose now to 
take our readers by the hand and ask them to 
accompany us on our march down the Penin- 
sula, and in our various wanderings along the 
shores of the Rappahannock, until we reach 
their final denouement on the ill-fated and 
bloody field of Bull Run. 

The army marched all that night and the 
next day, and, on the night of the 15th, they 
crossed the Chickahominy on a pontoon bridge 
and bivouacked about a mile beyond. On the 
16th they passed through Williamsburg, the 
ancient capital of Virginia, with bands playing 
and colors flying. Having halted a little while 
at noon, just beyond the town, they again mov- 
ed forward on the Yorktown road, and at night 
laid down to rest in the old camp which they 
had left over three months before. But what a 
contrast did the Eighty-Third of now present 
with the Eighty-Third' of then ! They left thai 
camp with over six hundred muskets. They 
returned to it with about eighty. The whole 
regiment scarcely tilled one of the old compa- 
ny streets. 

The next evening they reached Hampton, 
having performed a march of over sixty miles 



in three days and one night, under a burning 
sun and through clouds ot choking dust. The 
next morning they were joined by Lieut. Co- 
lonel Campbell, who had been wounded at 
Malvern Hill, and had just returned from 
home with forty or fifty new recruits, mostly 
from Waterford. From there they marched to 
Newport News, where transports were awaiting 
them. During the day they embarked ibr Ac- 
quia Creek, where they arrived on the morning 
of the 19th. 

On reaching Acquia, they took the cars for 
Falmouth. It was understood that Porter had 
been ordered to report to Gen. Buruside, who 
was then in comm md of that post. It is prob- 
able that he was directed by him to report to 
Gen. Pope ; and accordingly on the evening of 
the next day the Fifth Corps started towards 
Kelly's Ford, in quest of that General. They 
continued a very rapid and fatiguing march 
nearly all that night. About three o'clock in 
the morning they halted by the roadside and 
remained till daylight. After a short inarch 
they halted for the rest of the day. The next 
morning they started on a reconnoisance 
towards the Rappahanock, and, after a march 
of three miles, no enemy appearing in their 
front, they returned to the same camp. On the 
twenty-second they marched to Kelly's Ford, 
where they remained till about noon of the 
next day. The teams having been sent back 
to Falmouth in the morning, for rations and 
forage, the ti'oops were ordered to Bealton, 
whither they proceeded at once, without await- 
ing the return of the wagons. On arriving at 
Bealton they were ordered to proceed to War- 
renton Junction. During the march heavy 
firing was heard to the front, which proved to 
be an engagement between Gen. Hooker and 
Stonewall Jackson in the neighborhood of Bris- 
toe Station, That night they bivouacked near 
Warrenton Station, and the next morning they 
passed over the battle field and encamped 
between Bristoe and Manassas Junction. 

It is unnecessary to go into a detailed narative 
of all the marches and counter-marches, the 
grand detours and magnificent circumbendi- 
buses performed by the Fifth Corps between 
that time and the 31st, during the whole of 
which it was evident that we were trying, like 
Japhet in search of his father, to find some- 
body ; but whether it was Lee, or Jackson, or 
the holy father (Pope) himself, I am not 
prepared to say. It is enough to say that, 
while we were zig-zaggiug and cavorting about, 
Stonewall was making his way down through 
Thoroughfitro Gap for the purpose of rolling up 



Eighty -Third JRef/imenf, P. V 



our right flank, while Lee was pressing our 
front from the direction of the Rappahannock. 
On the morning of tiie 29th we found ourselves 
drawn up in line of battle, at a place called 
Groveton, in support of our batteries. While 
lying there the enemy opened upon us. Our 
artillery replied briskly and, after a spirited 
duel of three quarters of an hour, succeeded in 
silencing their guns. At this time the Fifth 
Corps was lying on the left of Sigel wao was 
already engaged with Stonewall Jackson. 

Early in the daj^ we might have swung 
around upon Stonewall's right flank and put 
him to rout. But the golden opportunity was 
suffered to be lost. While we were diverting 
ourselves by a desultory artillery fire, the 
enemy under Longstreet began to pour along, 
in full view, to the support of Jackson. Our 
men lay upon their arms all this while, look- 
ing upon the clouds of dust raised by the ene- 
my's column, catching sights of their men as 
they passed an opening in our front, and won- 
dering why Porter did not attack. Why did 
he not hurl the whole corps at once upon the 
foe, before he could have time to halt and form 
line to repel the altack? Our artillery siielled 
then as they passed and there the matter 
ended. Our brigade remained in that position 
till nearly sundown ; they were then marched 
a mile to the rear where they halted till dark. 
From here they were again moved to the front 
and ordered to lie upon their arms. At the 
same time details were made to go on picket at 
four o'clock in the morning. Belore that hour, 
however, they were ordered to march, as they 
were informed, to Centreville. But when they 
had passed a little beyond Manassas Junction, 
they left the Centreville road and turned in to- 
wards Bull Run heights. It was said tliat 
Gen. Morell, commanding the First Division, 
and Gen. GritBn, commanding the First Brig- 
ade, failed to receive the countermand, to 
march to Bull Run and, consequently, did not 
take part in the battle which followed. This 
will explain Avhy Gen. Butterfield assumed 
command of that portion of the division which 
was in the fight. This whole atfair was in en- 
tire keeping with the rest of the splendid man- 
agement which seemed to bless our arms on 
that unlucky field. 

On the morning of the 31st, the Second and 
Third Brigades (the Third commanded on this 
occasion by Col. Weeks of the 12th New York) 
were marched into a cornfield apparently for 
the purpose of forming line of battle. There 
the troops were halted and directed to cook 
their coffee and prepare their breakfast. Cof- 
fee or food for breakfast they did not have ; but 
the corn being in good condition for roasting 
the men fell to it, gathered the ears, built tires, 
and commenced roasting them. The smoke of 
the tires attracted the enemy's attention and 
they soon opened a brisk cannonade. This 
caused an order to be given to put out the fires, 
and our almost famished men were compelled 
to go without their roast corn ; their haversacks 
were empty and most of them had nothing to 
eat. 

At nine o'clock the brigade was moved, by 
columns closed in mass, into a piece of woods 
at the front, on the right centre of the general 
line of battle ; for by this time Pope had suc- 
ceeded in massing the army and making dis- 
positions for a general engagement. Here they 
remained, under a heavy artillery fire, until 
one o'clock in the afternoon. Lively skirmish- 
ing was also going on between the picket lines 



of the two armies. Before the battle com^ 
menced, Gen. Butterfield called the command- 
ing officers of the Third Brigade around him 
and gave them instructions for their conduct. 
His orders to Col. Campbell were to support 
the Forty-Fourth when the charge was made, 
and if the Forty-Fourth faltered, neverto let the 
Eighty-Third give way. The enemy were well 
posted on the hills in our front and, having 
selected their own position, they compelled our 
troops to be the attacking party. The order 
was now given to advance and charge upon 
the enemy. The brigade passed through the 
woods and over a rail fence, into an open field, 
in columns by division, and then deployed smd 
formed line of battle en echelon. This move- 
ment they executed in splendid order, in face 
of the enemy j,nd amidst the roar of artillery 
and the crashing of musketry which were 
directed upon them. Col. Campbell, standing 
in front of the line, now gave the command to 
double-quick. The men of the Eighty-Third 
dashed forward with a yell. The enemy's 
batteries vomited forth showers of grape and 
canister into their faces as they approached. 
But still they faltered not, nor did the lines 
waver. Whilst they were pressing forward, 
Col. Campbell was wounded byaminnie ball in 
the leg and fell. The regiment passed over 
him and he was taken to the rear. The com- 
mand then fell upon Major Lamont, who also 
received a wound shortly after and fell into the 
hands of the enemy. In spite of the terrible 
opposition they met with, the Eighty-Third 
charged forward until the other regiments of 
the brigade halted and commenced firing. 
They then halted and commenced tiring also. 
The understanding was that the division of 
troops on our right were to clear the rail- 
road cut of rebel infantry, while our division 
was to advance and charge the batteries 
on the left of it; but their part of the 
programme the troops on our right failed to 
fulfill. The consequence was that, in addition 
to the artillery fire in their front, our men were 
now exposed to a galling ttank tii-e from the 
rebel infantry in the railroad cut. They fought 
on, however, without any expectation of suc- 
cess, losing fearfully at every discharge of the 
enemy's guns. About that time it was report- 
ed that a regiment of rebel infantry was about 
to turn the right flank of the brigade ; and, on 
looking around, they were discovered, in full 
view, coming down upon us. They had al- 
ready gained a line parallel with the brigade, 
and in a few moments more would have taken 
us upon flank and rear. Capt. Graham, of the 
Kighty-Third, now looked around for a supe- 
rior officer. Not finding one, he met Capt. 
Riviere, of the Forty-Fourth, whose attention 
he directed to the movement of the enemy. 
Riviere immediately went to Col. Rice with the 
news Seeing tlie danger, Rice at once ordered 
the Forty-Fourth to fall back. As no time was 
to be lost, Capt. Graham, who had now taken 
command, ordered the Eighty-Third to about 
face and retreat also. At the same time the 
whole brigade went back, pell mell, together, 
and without a commander. Col. Weeks having 
been severely wounded in the early part of the 
engagement. The rebels kept up a heavy fire 
upon them as they retired, and it is probable 
that as many men were lost in the retreat as in 
the advance. They reached the woods, howev- 
er, before the rebels succeeded in accomplish- 
ing their flank movement. As they passed 
through a line of our troops lying there, a regi- 



52 



Judsoits History of 



ment arose and poured a volley upon Ibe rebel 
tlankerg which drove them back in contusion. 
The brigade was soon re formed in an open tield 
to the rear of the wood-i, and, as their ammuni- 
tion was found to be exiiausted, they waited 
there to receive a fresh supply. 

In this field were any quantity of troops who 
had taken no part in the action. Our men had 
been there but a little while when a great com- 
motion was observed on the hill to the left, on 
the top of which was a house used as a hospital 
for our wounded. A heavy cannonading had 
been opened on this spot by the rebel batteries. 
Our troops who were lying there, becoming 
panic stricken, began to give way and run 
down the hill towards our brigade ; and, as the 
firing and the enemy followed them, the men 
of our regiment were again in as much danger 
as they had been at any lime during the day. 
The pursuit of the enemy, however, in that 
quarter was soon checked. The Brigade was 
then ordered to fall ijack to a tield, beyond a 
line of Cavalry, who had been stationed there 
to prevent stragglers from going to the rear. 
Here thev were halted and drawn up in line 
and the commandants of regiments ordered to 
report to Gen. Butterfield. Capt. Graham re- 
ported on the part of the Eighty-Third. The 
General directed him to turn out all stragglers 
from other regiments who had gotten into his 
ranks. It was found that a number had done 
so in order to pass the cavalry line and get to 
the rear. The General then told him to keep 
the men in good spirits and to remember the 
discipline they had received at Hall's Hill. The 
Captain had scarcely returned to the regiment, 
■when Gen. Morell, who had arrived on the 
ground, rode up in company with Gen. But- 
terfield, and again the commandants of 
regiments were ordered to the front and 
centre. Gen. Butterfield, in behalf of Gen. 
Morell, then told the officers that they were to 
march to Centreville, where an abundance of 
rations would be issued to the men who had 
been without several days; that they must 
keep the men in good spirits, as Gen. Franklin 
was there with his corps, and that there they 
would rest and hold themselves in readiness 
for any emergency that might happen the next 
day. They were then sent back to iheir com- 
mands to take up the line of march. It was 
already sundown, and they marched most of 
the distance in the dark. The whole army fell 
back at the same time. They had suffered a 
defeat and were on the retreat; but no stam- 
pede or confusion took place, as was the case 
at the first battle of Bull Run. The artillery 



took the main road and the infantry the fields, 
and the retreat was conducted with perfect cool- 
ness and in good order. On reaching Bull Run 
Creek they were obliged to ford it, as the bridge 
was blocked up by artillery. The stream was 
deep and took the men up to th»"ir waists, but 
they pressed thrwugh without minding it. They 
reached Centreville about midnight, and before 
they laid down to rest they were supplied with 
rations which Gen. Butterfield had borrowed 
from the Second Division. Worn out with 
fatigue and Irom want of rest, the weary men 
prepared their supper, but that supper con- 
sisted of coffee and hard tack alone. 

This was a disastrous day for the Kighty- 
Third. They lost twenty killed and between 
fifty and sixty wounded, — half the number 
with which they went into battle. Only .seven- 
ty-one stacked arms that night at Centreville. 
Among the killed were Lieut. Wittich, who 
had dist.nguished himself at Malvern by the 
capttire of a rebel flag, and Lieut. Herrington, 
of Company G. The young recruits, who had 
been but ten days with the regiment, did splen- 
didly. When on the march to Bull Run, it 
was frequently remarked by the old men that 
they would run as soon as they got into action. 
Bat. on the contrary no veteran troops ever 
behaved better. The most of them refused to 
lie down or seek protection during the battle, 
but stood bolt upright and fought to the last. 
Our men, during the campaign, had done a 
great leal of hard marching, both by night 
and by day, and had suffered much from want 
of rations. Some of them, who fell into the 
hands of the enemy, gave a dollar for a single 
hard tack. In a few instances five dollars 
were given for a single meal, and a very scant 
and indifferent one at that. The skin of a hog 
was greedily seized upon, roasted and devoured 
by our half famished boys. They had no shel- 
ter and no blankets and were compelled to lie 
upon the ground, both the wounded and the 
well, amidst drenching rains. The most of 
these men were paroled by the rebels a few 
days afterwards; and such as were able to 
march w'eut to Camp Parole, at Annapolis, 
after having walked thirty miles in one day to 
reach Washington. 

The Eighty-Third remained at Centreville 
until the 2d of September. On that day they 
went to Had's Hill, by way of Chain Bridge, 
and encamped on the old ground. From there 
they went to Alexandria, where they remained 
till the ninth. They then moved to near Fort 
Corcoran, on Arlington Heights, and on the 
12th took up the line of march for Antietanti. 



Ut'f/J/hf-TI/ird Ecgimevt, P. V. 



iy.i 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Campaign in Maryland. Battle of Antietam', The Battle of Shepherdstown Ferry. Picket- 
ing on the Potomac. The march to Fredericksburg. Gen. Bnrnside in command of the army. 



After the battle of Bull Run our foroes harl 
fallen buck to the defences of Washington, and 
McClellaa had again been put in command of 
the army. lu a few days the rebels disap- 
peared from our front, and the authorities soon 
learned that they were on their way to Mary- 
land. The other corps of the army, which went 
in advance of Porter's, were soon on their trail. 
On the 12th of September the Fifth Corps 
passed througti Washington and took the road 
leading through Rockville to Frederick. The 
weather was very warm and pleasant, and the 
roads were in good condition. On the night of 
14th we reached the Monocacy, two miles from 
Frederick, and encamped upon its banks. Du- 
ring the march we had heard heavy tiring in 
the direction of Harper's Ferry. On the 15th 
we passed through Frederick, that loyal city, 
where we were greeted by thousands of flags 
displayed from the windows of the houses, and 
by the good words and smiles of encourage- 
ment from the citizens. The rebels had left it 
the day before, and were now making their 
way back to the Potomac by way of South 
Mountain and Sharpsburgh, at which place it 
was Lee's intention to mass his forces and, in 
the magniloquent language of the South, "de- 
liver battle." On the same day, too, was fought 
the battle of South Mountain, which we saw 
from afar, and which, in connection with the 
magnificent scenery where it took place, formed 
one of the most beautiful scenes that we had 
yet witnessed in the grand panorama of the 
war. We moved on up the Boonesboro road, 
passing over South Mountain, and encamped 
that night at Middletown. On the evening of 
the 16th we passed through Keedysville, a few 
miles from Sharpsburgh, where we found the 
army massing and making preparations for a 
general battle. We bivouacked that night near 
the field, and the next morning we moved for- 
ward and took our position at the centre, on the 
east of the Antietam Creek. 

As the infantry belonging to the Fifth Corps 
did not take an active part in this engagement, 
it is unnecessary to attempt any further des- 
cription of it than to say, that the position it 
held during the day was a most important one, 
and one from which it could not have well been 
spared to operate in any other part of the field 
The artillery, however, belonging to the corps, 
did gr<?at execution ; for, being advantageously 
posted on a hill in our front, they kept up a 
constant and heavy fiie upon the enemy and 
contributed very materially to the success of 
the day. The corps consisted, at that time, of 
but two divisions, the First and Second. These 
divisions had been weakened and reduced by 



heavy losses at Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill and 
Ball Run, and probably did not, at the time, 
number over eight thousand rr.uskets. The 
stories that were published, of twenty thou- 
sand men lying in reserve during the engage- 
ment, were without foundation. The Fifth 
Corps only num )ered twenty-seven thousand 
on the morning of the battle of Gaines' Mill, 
when it had three divisions. After sustaining 
the whole shock of that day ; after having sus- 
tained the heaviest part of the fighting at Mal- 
vern Hill, and a fair share of the fighting at 
Bull Run, besides the loss of the whole divis- 
ion of Pennsylvania Reserves by transfer to 
another corps, it is not reasonable to suppose 
that they had twenty thousand men left for 
active service at Antietam. Many of these men 
were even without arms, and, of the Eighty- 
Third, at least fifty men had none. In fact, 
the whole army had been badly damaged by 
the fiasco at Bull Run, and the bravery with 
which they fought upon this day, only showed 
that they were always superior to the rebel 
army in a fair, stand up fight, as well as it 
proved their confidence at that time in the 
General who commanded them. 

The heavy fighting was all done upon the 
right and left, and it was there that the heaviest 
part of the army was concentrated. There 
was no continuous line of battle, with lines of 
reserves as usual, in the rear. The remains of 
the Fifth Corps merely picketed, as it were, in 
the centre ; and had it been withdrawn to the 
right or to the left, it would have given the 
enemy an opportunity to break through, di- 
vide the army and capture all our trains, be- 
sides inflicting upon us a disastrous defeat. At 
one time Gen. Burusidewas hard pressed upon 
the left and sent to Gen. McClellan lor rein- 
forcements. But by sending the Fifth Corps, 
or any considerable portion of it, he would 
have exposed the whole centre to an attack of 
the enemy without an adequate force to oppose 
him. The enemy may not nave discovered the 
error, and may have, in the special order of 
Providence, been destined to a defeat at all 
events. But military men will agree that to 
divide an army in order to attack a concen- 
trated enemy is the most fatal error of which 
any commander could be guilty. 

Towards evening the report came that Hook- 
er was driving the enemy on the right, and 
shortly afterwards our brigade and another 
were moved towards the right to reinforce, as 
we supposed, our troops in that quarter. Hav- 
ing gone about three-quarters of a mile we 
halted. While remaining there, McClellan 
came riding by, and from the concern upon 



54 



Judsons History of 



bis countenance, we judged that all was not 
going well on the right. But news soon came 
again that the tide of battle hadsetin our favor. 
The emergency had passed, and we were or- 
dered back into our old position at the centre. 
Tiiat night we lay upon our arms. When 
morning came we moved to the left and took a 
position in the rear of Burnside. There was no 
lighting on the 18th, except some skirmishing 
between the picket lines of the two armies. 
We lay upon our arms that night again, and 
during the night the rebels completed their re- 
treat across the Potomac. On the 19th we 
moved forward through Sharpsburgh and 
halted for tbe night near Shepherdstown Ferry, 
where the main body ot the rebel army had 
crossed. 

The river at that piint was low and easily 
forded. The banks on either side were high. 
On the Virginia side they were almc-st perpen- 
dicular, rendering it extremely difficult to cross 
in the face of an opposing torce. At the water's 
edge stood the walls of an old stone mill, known 
as Boteler's mill. A few rods above it was the 
dam which, at that season o& the year, was 
scarcely covered with water. On this side, 
close to the river, ran the canal which the rebels 
had tapped and emptied on their crossing into 
Maryland. A bout a mile above the mill stands 
the village of Shepherdstown, from which the 
ferry takes its name. In taeir retreat, the 
rebels had placed some artillery on the opposite 
shores of the ferry, under cover of which the 
rear of their army h;<d crossed over. On the 
night of the 19th the First and Second Brigades 
crossed over, captured several of their guns and 
drove the enemy back some distance from the 
river. 

On the morning of the 20th our whole divis- 
ion and a portion of the Second Division made 
an attempt to cross over and drive the enemy 
from their position. On the bluffs were placed 
several batteries, under cover of which our 
troops commenced crossing. The Second Di- 
vision and the First and Second Brigades had 
passed over, formed line of battle and com- 
menced scrambling up the bluffs. The Third 
Brigade was following close after. The head 
of the Eighty-Third had scarcely got half way 
across, when we were ordered back to take a 
position in the canal. At that moment the fir- 
ing commenced. The One Hundred and Eigh- 
teenth Pennsylvania had gained the heights 
and were inarching boldly to the front, when 
the enemy rose up out of their ambush and 
gave them a volley which soon checked their 
advance. They had a heavy force concealed 
in the woods, about a quarter of a mile back, 
and they now began to swarm out in such num- 
bers, and to open sixch a rapid firing, that our 
men were compelled to give way and retreat in 
confusion to the river. The One Hundred 
and Eighteenth Pennsylvania, which was 
the most exposed, suffered the most severely. 
The rebels endeavored to follow up their advan- 
tage and advanced in close pursuit; but at that 
moment our batteries opened and gave them a 
decided check. A large number, however, 
taking advantage of the ravine, succeeded 
in crawling up to the edge of the bluff; 
and, having concealed themselves behind the 
rocks and trees, tired upon our men as they 
were esoaping across the river. Some attempted 
to cross over on the dam but the greater por- 
tion rushed through the stream in crowds. 
Strange to say, but comparatively few were 
killed or wounded in the crossing. It is prob- 



able, however, that the heavy fire of our artil- 
lery, and the rapid firing of our brigade, from 
their sheltered position in the canal, prevented 
the enemy frona approaching the edge of the 
bluff in any force and from pouring a destruct- 
ive fire upon our retreating columns. The rebel 
narrative of this affair was, as usual, exagger- 
ated. They made such terrible slaughter that 
the river for miles was literally crimsoned with 
Yankee blood, and choked up with bodies of 
the Yankee slain. 

Our position in the canal would have been a 
very desirable one had it not been for the blun- 
dering lire of a Dutch Battery on tbe bluflf in 
our rear. All that remarkable brilliancy of 
intellect, that wonderful clearness of percep- 
tion and solidity of Judgment which must in- 
variably be the concomitants of your genuine 
Lager Bier drinkers, manifested themselves in 
every shot they fired. Our position was about 
half way between theirs and the bluffs on the 
opposite shore. It seemed impossible for them 
to give the proper length of string to their 
fuses, or rauge to their shells, and the conse- 
quence was they exploded the half of them the 
moment they left the cannon's mouth and sent 
them whirling and leaping into our rear. 
Strange to say not a man was injured. But as 
a fire from both front and rear was not a very 
desirable thing, an officer from the Seventeenth 
went back and insisted on their drying up. To 
this request they acceded with a "yaw!" and 
went to smoking their pipes. Being relieved 
from any further terror in our rear, we now 
had a chance to turn our attention to the enemy 
in our front. 

During the whole day sharp-shooting was 
kept up across the river, but neither one side 
nor the other did any execution, beyond inflict- 
ing a slight wound upon some one who ven- 
tured to expose himself too rashly. A number 
of men, who had not ventured to re-cross, had 
taken refuge in the arches of an old structure 
near the mill. The rebels did not dare to come 
out of their cover to fire upon them, neither 
durst the men attempt to come over to us, and 
they were consequently obliged to remain there 
all day, huddled together like a lot of sheep in 
the shambles. Some amusing incidents of 
sharp-shooting occurred in which the artillery 
—not the Duioh battery — took part. Several 
rebel sharp-shooters were observed to crawl 
under the archway of the mill and keep up an 
annoying fire upon some of our men whose 
position Avas exposed. Our artillerists levelled 
a rifled Parrolt gun upon the hole, and, after a 
few unsuccessful shots succeeded in exploding 
a couple of shells in the very spot. No more 
annoyance was tr'xperienced from that quarter. 

The firing between our brigade and the reb- 
els was kept up most of the night. Shortly 
alter dark pickets were stationed upon the tow- 
path and ordered to lie down so as not to form 
too conspicuous a mark lor the enemy's sharp- 
shooters. Before daylight they withdrew their 
skirmishers, and on the next day we were re- 
lieved by another brigade. We continued to 
picket the river in front of Shepardstown for 
two weeks afterwards, but during this time 
nothing of importance occurred and we saw no 
rebels worth mentioning. We then moved to 
a field near the Iron Works, at the mouth of 
Antietam Creek, where we pitched a camp. 
Here we remained picketing tae river until the 
30th ot October. During this time Col. Vin- 
cent, who had been absent sick since the bat- 
tle of Gaines' Mill, rejoined the regiment. 



EigJity-Third Begiment, P. V. 



55 



From the time of leaving Wastiington it had 
been commanded by Capt. Woodward, and 
the brigade had been commanded by Colonel 
Stockton, of the Sixteenth Michigan. 

Ah, those halcyon days which we passed on 
the romantic shores of the Potomac ! For 
nearly six weeks did we lie, in perfect repose, 
in the bosom of that delightful valley, the 
mountains of the Blue Ridge towering up be- 
fore us on the one baud, and the waters of the 
blue Potomac flowing quietly along between 
its rock-bound, shores, on the other. There 
amidst its sequestered glens, beneath the shade 
of the wide-spreading beech, were the scarred 
veterans of tne Eighty-Third accustomed to 
stretch their brawny limb", while not a foe was 
to be seen, not an alarm hi^ard to disturb the 
harmony of the scene. Here they lived upon 
the fat of the laud. After the trials and suffer- 
ings of the terrii)le seven day^^ before Richmond 
and. the six weeks of sweltering beneath the 
rays of a worse than tro-^ical sun at Harrison's 
Lauding; after the disaster at Bull Run, and 
the excitements and fatigues of the campaign in 
Maryland, all occurring within a pei-iod oif two 
and a half months, tliis proved a season of 
grateful and beneficial rest. During that time 
they regained their accustomed spirits and 
strenglh, received their suppliesof clothing and 
equipments and were again ready for another 
season of active service. Whether we should 
have been following up the enemy during this 
long period of repose, is a question which I 
shall not undertake to decide, and I should not 
do it here even if I were so disposed. 

On the 30th we broke camp, and after a 
pleasant march amidst the mountain and river 
scenery of that picturesque region, we bivou- 
acked about two miles from Harper's Ferry. 
The next day we crossed at the Ferry and, 
having wound around tlie base of Loudon 
Heights, continued the march down J^oudon 
Valley. Of all the marches we ever made, 
none were so pleasant and so romantic as this. 
This is, perhaps, one of the most charming 
valleys in the world. On either side ranges of 
mountains, but a few miles apart, reared their 
lofty brows into the skies, giving this valley 
the appearance of a little world within itself. 
The first night we halted about four miles be- 
low Harper's Ferry and encamped at the base 
of one of the mountain ridges. Alongthe crest of 
the hills glimmered, at intervals, the signal fires 
of the army ; and when the moon rose up over 
the mountain's brow, she threw her silver 
beams down upon thousands of little white 
glittering tents that dotted the valley for miles 
around. Almost the whole of that glorious 
night we laid listening to the songs of the mock- 
ing bird and the doleful cry of the whippoorwill 
and contemplating the lights and shades of this 
magnificent scenery by moonlight. It is not 
often, nor long at a time, that soldiers can en- 
joy such scenes of repose and contemplation ; 
for they are as evanescent as the shadows which 
pass over him and, like lover's dreams by 
night are "too flattering sweet to be substan- 
tial." 

"We continu.ed our march very leisurely down 
this valley. The enemy, meanwhile, was mov- 
ing up the Shenaudoali, on the other side of the 
Blue Kidge, and we kept pace with him, seiz- 
ing and holding all the gaps as we went. (:)n 
the 2d of Novenil>er we heard tiring at the front 
and pushed od, making u heavier march that 



day than usual. Just before dark we reached 
Snicker's Gap and found that the Second Corps 
had had a sharp evigagemoiit with the rebels 
who attempted to come through, and that they 
had driven them back and were holding pos- 
session of the gap. That night we encamped 
under the walls of a village which rejoiced in 
the euphonious name of Snickersville. I do 
not know why it is, out I was always more or 
less powerfully affected by high-sounding and 
euphonious names ; and I trust my readers 
will pardon me for descending from the Gibbo- 
nian dignity of the history to inform them, that 
I was seized with such a passion for the name 
of Snicker that could I have found a gentle 
sliepherde«<s of that name, I should have mar- 
ried her on the spot. 

From Snickersville we moved towards White 
Plains, passing through Middleburg where, in 
eight months afterwards, the Third Brigade 
made such a glorious record under the command 
of Col. Vincent. We arrived at Warrenton on 
the 9th and while there tTlen. McClellan received 
his order relieving him from the command of 
the army. At that time McClellan was the 
idol of the army, for he was its creator and 
preserver, and it is n.i to be denied that this 
intelligence fell upon it not without producing 
a slight shock. Nay, there was considerable 
swearing indulged in, and threats of marching 
on Washington, should McClellan but take the 
lead. But this etterve-^cence soon subsided. 
The feelings which newly pledged soldiers ex- 
perience at the removal of their favorite general 
are very much like those which an ardent 
young man experiences when he finds himself 
compelled to give up the idol of his affections. 
He dreads the pain of separation and dies a 
thousand deaths at the bare reflection ; but, 
when the thing is once over, he consoles himself 
with the idea that there are as good fish in the 
sea as there are out of it, and that, after all, he 
may find another and perhaps a better one in 
the end. 

It was on the 10th. I think, that Gen. McClel- 
lan took leave of the army. In the morning 
word was sent to the officers belonging to the 
Fifth Corps that such as felt disposed could go 
and take leave of the General at Gen. Porter's 
head quarters. Nearly all were in attendance. 
After awaiting his arrival for some time, du- 
ring which the subject of his removal was 
pretty freely discussed, the General, accom- 
panied by Gen. Burnside and several other 
officers, rode up ; and, after alighting, he made 
a short speech, which he closed by saying that, 
whatever might be his position in future life, 
he never could regard himself otherwise than 
as belonging to the Army of the Potomac. He 
then commenced shaking hands and bidding 
adieu to each and all of the assembled officers. 
In the afternoon the Second and Fifth Corps 
were drawn up by the road side and the Gen- 
eral's farewell address was read to every com- 
pany. Shortly afterwards, he rode along, ac- 
companied by his staff, on his way to the cars; 
and the moment he appeared the air was rent 
by long, loud and enthusiastic cheering. Gen. 
Porter, who had also been relieved from his 
command, left shortly after. 

We lay at Warrenton a week or ten days, 
and during that time dieu. Burnside reorgan- 
ized the army into three grand divisions, two 
corps composing a division. Hooker's and 
Porter's corps composed the centre grand divi- 



56 



Judson's History of 



sion, the whole vicder the command of Gen. 
Hooker. Gen. Biitterfield succeeded to the 
comniand of tbe Filth corps. As soon as all 
the arrangements were completed for follow- 
ing up the campaign, the whole army was put 
in iriotion. After a pleasant march we reached 



the Acquia Creek hailroad on the morning of 
the 26th of November, at a point three miles 
north of Frederickslsurg, and pitched our 
camps near what was afterwards known as 
Stoneman's Station. 



Eighty-TJiird Begiment, P. V. 



CHAPTER XII. 



The Battle of Fredericksburg. 



While we lay at Warrenton the army received 
its supplies by the Orange & Alexandria Rail 
road and the Warrenton branch. When we 
cut loose from that place and swung over to 
Fredericksburg, a new ba^e was established 
at Aquia Creek, on the Potomac, about fifty 
miles below Washington. From this point tlie 
railroad ran through Fredericksburg to Rich- 
mond. The army encamped along the whole 
line of the road, from the Potomac to the Rap- 
pahannock. The rebels had destroyed the rail- 
road bridge over the stream known as Potomac 
Creek ; but it was speedily rebuilt by our 
ariny. Depots were established at several 
points, and the army received its supplies dur- 
ing the Avinter months without being com- 
pelled to haul them over muddy roads in wa- 
gons. 

The Eighty-Third laid out its camp in a pleas- 
ant grove of pines close by the railroad. Oui 
cavalry had preceded us in the movement on 
Fredericksburg, had crossed over the river, 
and, it is said, that had the pontoons been 
therein readiness when our infantry first came 
up, they could have carried the place with 
little difficulty. But while we were waiting 
for the pontoons, the rebel army gained the po- 
sition, and, having strongly fortified it, lay 
in wait for the crossing of our troops. 

Burnside was busily employed, in the mean- 
time, in erecting works on the heights, on this 
side of the Rappahannock, and planting them 
with heavy artillery. The ground on the North 
Shore was higher than that on the South Shore, 
and in this respect we had the advantage of the 
rebels. We were to cross over under cover of 
these batteries. On the morning of the 12th of 
December we received orders to move. We 
marched within two miles of the river, and 
laid in the mud awaiting orders to advance. 
During this time our engineers were endeavor- 
ing to ihrow two bridges over the river. The 
rebel sharpshooters, posted in the deserted 
houses along the opposite banks, annoyed them 
so much that they were compelled at last to 
send over a small infantry force and dislodge 
them. Our artillery had previously attempted 
to shell them out, and a good deal of heavy 
cannonading, in consequence, had been going 
on for several days. At night all the arrange- 
ments were completed, and early next morn- 
ing our troops commenced crossing over. That 
night our corps moved a little further towards 
the river, to a piece of woods and bivouacked. 
The night was keen and frosty, and when we 
awoke the next morning, our blankets were 
covered with hoar frost, apparently a quarter 
of an inch thick. 

It was Sumner's corps, I believe, which first 
crossed over. He was to commence the attack 



on the enemy's left, while Franklin, who had 
crossed over several miles below, was to attack 
his right. The heights around Fredericksburg 
were admirably suited to the purpose of de- 
fence. They formed a sort of semi-circle 
around the city, the centre being about a mile 
distant and gradually sloping towards the 
river, giving their artillery a splendid chance 
to play upon an assaulting column. They had 
built forts and long lines of breastworks along 
the crest of the hill, had entrenched themselves 
bt'hind stone walls, and taken every possible 
advantage of the ground. It was, in lact, the 
most complete slaughter pen into which a gal- 
lant army had ever been led. Behind these 
formidable works they posted themselves, and 
laid, in perfect security, awaiting the hour of 
our ill-fated attack. 

As soon as our hard tack and coffee had been 
disposed of, we were ordered to fall in and be 
in readiness to move at any moment. The rat- 
tling of musketry had already commenced. 
The batteries on both sides kept up a heavy 
cannonading for a while, but soon the com- 
batants had approached so near together that 
the artillery firing became impracticable and 
ceased. From early in the morning till three 
in the afternoon, we stood upon the heights and 
saw the battle raging below us. The whole of 
the great amphitheatre, where the two armies, 
like gladiators, were engaged in a death strug- 
gle, was one dense cloud arising from the 
smoke of battle. After the artillery had ceased 
nothing was to be heard but the constant rat- 
tle and crash of musketry; and there is always 
something more terrible in the crashing of 
musketry on the battle field than in the roar of 
the heaviest artillery. Occasionally the firing 
would die away, and for the space of half a 
minute, not a shot was to be heard. 
At such moments we would hug the 
delusive phantom of hope that the car- 
nage was at an end ; for every soldier in the 
ranks foresaw that nothing but disaster and 
defeat was to follow. In another moment with 
ten fold more fury than ever, the rapid flashes 
of living flame could be seen, followed by that 
dreadful crash, as if the demon of war was de- 
vouring and craunching the bones of a thou- 
sand victims at a time between his iron teeth. 
At three o'clock we moved down the hill to 
near the upper pontoon bridge, again halted, 
stacked arms and remained for half an hour. 
The reports of the wounded men, who streamed 
past us, and the lengthened faces of officers who 
had been over the river, gave no indications 
that success was smiling upon our arms. The 
most cheerful news was that we were holding 
our ground ! which, considering that we had 
crossed over for the purpose of carrying the 



58 



Judson's History of 



heights, presented a very flattering prospect, 
indeed. About four, we were again ordered 
forward in haste. We rapicily crossed the pon- 
toon, scrambled up the banks, and started otl' 
on a double-quick up the main street of the 
<'ity. On arriving near the u[>per end, we filed 
in to the left and in a few moments had formed 
line in the rear of some building'*. Here we 
laid down upon our arms and sought what pro- 
tection we could. The rebel artillery saw the 
movement and immedintely opened onus from 
several batteries on the heights. For an hour 
the fragments of their shells fell thickly around 
ns and wounded several of our men. Here it 
was that Colonel Vincent first began to give 
jndiciations of that bravery for which he after- 
wards became distinguished. With sword in 
hand he stood erect in full view of the enemy's 
artillery, and though the shot fell fast on all 
sides, ho never wavered nor once changed his 
position. It Avas not rashness that inspired 
him, but a high and chivalrous sense of duty. 
The sun had already gone down and we had not 
yet been ordered forward. Twilight had begun 
tosettledownupontbelurid field of carnage, and 
still we remained. Our men had charged again 
and again, but the eagle of victory had not yet 
perched upon their banners. There was no 
hope whatever that it would. All that could 
be done was for them to rush into that slaught- 
er pen and be hurled back broken, bleeding 
and dismayed. But it was imperative that the 
men who had opposed their breasts to that wall 
of fire should be relieved, and we were accord- 
ingly ordered to charge forward. 

In an instant we were up and in line. The 
enemy saw us, and again let fly with redoubled 
fury the coutents of their batteries upon us 
Col. Vincent gave the command "forward 
Eighty-Third!" and went ahead, sword in 
hand. We attempted to march straight to the 
front, in regular line of battle, but the build- 
ings and fences opposed such insurmountable 
obstacles that we had to double up and march 
b.y the flank till we had cleared them. This 
threw us into some confusion. We gained the 
open ground, however, and in a few moments 
Avere again in linn pressing forward to the 
charge. This we did in face of a murderous 
artillery fire. Down, into the railroad cut, we 
went tumbling, and, then clambering up the 
other side, we again rushed forward. In the 
confusion which reigned, and from the difficulty 
in hearing orders, the ranks became again 
thrown into some disorder; but by a great 
effort on the part of the officers, the line was 
again restored. On we went, over the bodies 
of the slain, for a quarter of a mile, when we 
reached the brow of a hill a few hundred yards 
from the enemy's lines, and there halted. The 
position we had gained exposed us to an en- 
filading flank fire from the rebel batteries on 
our left. We had not been there but a few 
minutes before they opened, and for'nearly an 
hour we laid close upon the ground and gazed 
upon their fiery messengers of deathscreaming 
over us. Fortunately it was now dark and 
they could not bring their guns to bear upon 
us with any accuracy. The Eighty-Third had 
also commenced firing the moment they gained 
the hill, but as they could see no enemy, orders 
were given to save their ammunition and cease 
firing. 

In this action the Eighty-Third lost but some 
six or seven killed and about thirty wounded. 
All our losses took place from the time we first 
formed line in the outskirts of the city wp to 



this moment. None were lost afterwards. 
Shortlv after we had ceased firing, the cries of 
the wounded in front began to assail our ears. 
They had lain upon the field all day, and now 
their agonizing cries for help broke mournfully 
upon the stillness of the night. Parties were 
soon sent out after them, and they were all ■ 
removed during the night. In a few minutes 
more a New Jersey regiment, which had gone 
into the charge a little while before us and 
which had pressed further to the front, came in 
and gave us the information that we had been 
firing into their rear. Up to that time we had 
supposed there was nothing but rebels in our 
front. 

Shortly after this there took place whatseemed 
to us a remarkable movement in our rear. As 
we were lying there in the dark, we heard all of a 
sudden a perfect uproar coming up from a multi- 
tude of voices in that dii-ection. Such appar- 
ent confusion of tongues, such wrangling 
among men and officers, such a multiplicity of 
orders for dressing up and moving forward, 
and such enquiries among lost men for their 
companies, were never heard before in any or- 
ganization outside of pandemonium. We wait- 
ed their approach with breathless attention and 
with not a little concern ; for we knew not 
whether they were our own troops or whether 
they were the enemy who had succeeded in 
getting into our rear and were making the bold 
attempt to surround us. We had observed, on 
ioing in, that we formed the left of the line, 
that we had no supports on our left, and that 
in the position we then held, the enemy's line 
ran around even to our rear. It is but truth to 
say that this mysterious movement began to 
create no little alarm in our ranks. Soon the 
dark line of mortality hove in sight, and the 
next danger to be feared was that, if they were 
our friends, they might mistake us for the ene- 
my and commence firing into our rear. In a 
moment more the rebels opened upon them, 
throwing their shells directly over our heads ; 
and while we lay absorbed in witnessing this 
grand display of pyrotechnics and in watching 
the movements of the dark hosts below, they 
passed away, and we never knew who they 
were, what they came for or where they went 
even unto this day. 

We laid the rest of that night upon our arms 
and attempted to sleep, for we expected the 
battle would be renewed early the next day. 
The line of the Eighty-Third ran in the direc- 
tion of North and South, but as this would have 
subjected us when morning came, to an enfi- 
lading fire from the enemy's batteries, we shift- 
ed our position, a little before daylight, around 
to the North side of the hill. This new position 
kept us under cover of the brow of the hill and 
afforded us a good shelter from the fire of both 
their artillery and infantry. The next day was 
Sunday, and, either out of mutual respect for 
the day, or because the rebels had determined 
to act only on the delensive, and Burnside had 
concluded it was best to act on the offensive no 
longer, neither side renewed the engagement. 
Both laifit upon their arms, however, watching 
each other and keeping up a desultory skirmish- 
ing and, at intervals, a cannonading along the 
lines. Further to our right, where the men 
were more exposed, the skirmishing was brisk 
and a number were killed and wounded. The 
men of the Eightj^-Third laid tiie whole day in 
recumbent posture, in the mud and amidst the 
dead, for their own protection ; for, the moment 
a head appeared above the brow of the hill, a 



EigJity-TJiird Begiment, P. V. 



59 



dozen ballets came whizzing after it. Slight 
breast-works, such as they could dig witli their 
bayonets, with the aid of the ruins of a fence 
that had been trampled down in the battle of 
the day before, were thrown up and this also 
afforded them a partial protection from the 
enemy's sharpshooters. 

Even in this unpleasant position there was 
occasion for considerable merriment among 
the soldiers. Whether in camp or in line of 
battle, the men are constantly going to the rear 
for some purpose or other. Every point of 
egress to the rear, on this occasion, was expose<l 
except one, a little hollow running out towards 
the railroad cut. The heads of our men in 
passing through this holiow were barely visible 
to the rebels, and they took advantage of it 
for some time before they were discovered. 
The rebel skirmishers held possession of a 
brick house several hundred yards to the front, 
and in the upper story of this house a number 
now posted themselves and indulged in the 
recreation of shooting at the boys as they 
passed through this hollow to the rear. Our 
men, who were accustomed to be shot at and 
missed, dreaded running this gauntlet but lit- 
tle more than school boys dread to run the 
gauntlet of as many snow balls. But the 
ludicrous opei-ation of passing the tiery ordeal 
never failed to be accompanied bv an uproar of 
laughter from the rest of the regiment. 

The rebels tried hard to send a few shells 
among us during the day, but did not succeed 
in doing any damage. Their shots generally 
struck the brow of the hill and ricochetted 
oft" to the rear and exploded without effect. 
They could get no direct range upon us. 

In the afternoon we discovered a squad of 
rebels moving around cautiously to our left, 
through a narrow strip of woods some sixty 
or eighty rods distant. Their object was to get 
where they could see us and pour in a fire upon 
our left flank. As soon as our men discovered 
their object they threw up a small traverse at 
the left of our line and. taking shelter behind it, 
kept up a skirmish with them for nearly the rest 
of the day. The rebels concealed themselves 
behind the trees and fences and annoyed us 
considerably, but they were Anally driven otf. 

At ten o'clock that night, having been relieved 
by other troops, we returned to tbe main street 
of the city and bivouacked on the pavements. 
The men had lain for thirty hours upon the 
field, without their coffee er cooked rations and 
even without water, and they needed 
food and rest. But we got neither food 
nor rest that night. Twice, before morn- 
ing, we were arotised from our beds and 
ordered to fall in, in expectation of an attack 
from the enemy. The pickets had become 
alarmed, as usual, and had commenced tiring 
so rapidly that it began to sound like a regular 
engagement. When morning came, we arose, 
cooked our coffee and ate our breakfast in the 
streets. The city was full of troops. The 
regimental commanders were required to keep 
their men well in hand and to be ready for any 
emergency. There was some cannonading and 
musketry tiring during the day out in front. 
The position on our old line was held by the 
same troops who had relieved us the night be- 
fore. The town was apparently deserted by 
the citizens and all the stores and private 
houses were locked up and the shutters closed. 
There were said to be, however, several hun- 
dred of the inhabitants still left, but they were 
not visible. The soldiers found their way into 



the houses, rummaging and ransacking them 
out of mere curiosity. Orders had been issued 
the day before to prevent all pillaging; but to 
strictly enforce such an order during the pro- 
gress of an engagement is impossible. Some 
of the Eighty-Third went somewhere, got flour 
and commenced cooking pancakes on the 
streets. Hundreds of soldiers were doing the 
same thing in the kitchens of the private dwel- 
lings. Everybody got something, and almost 
everyone attempted to bring away somethiusr, 
and would have probably succeeded if he could 
have carried it, or if it had not been taken away 
from him by the guard stationed at the brids^es. 
I saw several literary vandals pile up a large 
trunk full of books with which they intended 
to solace themselves during the leisure hours of 
winter quarters ; but bniDg in lack of transpor- 
tation they were obliged to leave them. The day 
was spent in curiosity hunting by some, anil 
in a sort of jollification by others till towards 
evening, when Colonel Vincent took command 
of the brigade and Capt. McCoy the command 
of the regiment. We then moved up street and 
bivouacked in the garden of a fine old residence 
belonging to the editor of the Fredericksburg 
News, who, with his family, had previously 
left the city. 

About twelve o'clock that night we received 
orders to turn out and fall in. Where are we 
going? seemed to be the general enquiry. Dur- 
ing the day we hadheard certain vague rumors 
that our corps was going back over tbe river, 
but wo had not suspected that the whole army 
was preparing for a general retreat. Some of 
the men, while lying in bivouac, had seen reg- 
iment after regiment pass by and turn down 
the street that led to the upper bridge. They 
had found, too, that these regiments belonged 
to other corps. We now began to think that 
the whole army was going back, and we flat- 
tered ourselves that our turn, too, had come. 
What, then, was our disappointment on finding 
that, instead of heading for the river, we were 
heading again for theiront! To the front wo 
did go and relieved the trrops that had relieved 
us the night before. Ugh ! but wasn't it dismal 
out there this time? I presume it is not acting 
the part of a soldier to confess, even at this dis- 
tance of time, to any feelings of horror on this 
occasion. But so gloomy were the associalions 
connected with that slaughter-pen that I think 
I can safely say, that every soldier in the army 
was more than anxious to get out of it as soon 
as he could. We took up oitr old position and 
threw out pickets a few yards to the front. The 
picket men seemed to go to their posts reluc- 
tantly. It was not fear that ruled them. It 
was the first symptoms of that process of de- 
moralization by which the best troops are ru- 
ined in consequence of the bad management 
of their commanding generals. All was as si- 
lent and sepulchral as the grave, as we again 
laid down upon our arms, within a few yards 
of the enemy's lines. Not a shot wasexchangf d. 
Not a word above a whisper was .spoken. The 
men seemed to be lying in mute suspense, as if 
awaiting for the break of the day of doom. All 
the commands, all the instructions to be fol- 
lowed in case of an attack were given in low, sup- 
pressed tones anel then conveyed in whispers 
from one man to another. The clear, cold moon 
shone down, darkened occasionally by flying 
clouds; but its bright beams had no cheer nor 
comfort in them. It was now three o'clock ia 
the morning. All had been quiet up to this 
time, when suddenly three musket shots, lol- 



60 



Judson's History of 



lowing each other in succession, were heard to- 
wards our right rear, and the hullets came 
whizzing along and passed to our extreme left. 
Heaven preserve us ! thought we ; is it possi- 
ble the enemy is getting into our rear and 
means to attack us in the dead of night? Not 
another shot was heard ; and, in less than half 
an hour, we received orders to abandon the 
position. This movement had to be executed 
with the greatest caution and secrecy. The 
moon was still shining brightly. We were but 
a few rods from the enemy's lines, his batteries 
were so planted as to enfilade the road we had 
to take, and — should he discover us ! We arose 
and got into line without uttering a word 
above a whisper. A driving south wind had 
sprung up and huge banks of clouds began to 
move along the skies. Providence had favored 
us. For a few moments we watched the pro- 
gress of that cloud, half dreading lest a sud- 
den change of wind should drive it in another 
direction. Every eye was upon it, and every 
heart was beating like a mufiled drum, half 
prophetic that this might prove our funeral 
march rather than our successfuf retreat. One 
corner of the cloud had driven past the moon 
and, for a moment, it seemed as if the whole 
w^ould sweep clear ; when, all at once, as if by 
a sudden breath of the Ruler of the Winds, its 
huge base swung around and in a moment 
naore darkness had settled down upon the face 
of the earth. Seizing the opportunity Colonel 
Vincent, in a suppressed tone, gave the word 
of command, to the foremost regiment, to for- 
ward. Without awaiting the order, the second, 
the third, the fourth, the fifth followed at a 
rapid pace along the railroad cut towards 
the deserted city. The clattering of tin cups 
and of coffee pots broke in ominous tones 
upon the stillness of the night, and called 
forth, from the lips of the more cautious 
men, execrations not loud but deep. But the 
wind came from the direction of the enemy 
and the sound of these tinkling cymbals bi'oke 



not open their ears. On entering the city we 
halted in one of the outer streets and formed 
line of battle. The whole truth now broke 
upon us ; our division was to cover the retreat 
of the army across the Rappahannock. Pickets 
were again thrown out to the front. All was 
still silent along our deserted lines. Soon a 
shot was heard, and then another, and 
then still enother, as if, suspecting that 
a gap had been made in nature, the enemy 
were endeavoring to call forth a response 
to their salutation. Then was heard the 
deep, heavy baying of a bloodhound, as if 
he, too, had been set upon our tracks. Nearer 
and nearer, though cautiously and slowly, ap- 
proached the monster ; and it seemed as if every 
moment would bring after him the whole pack 
of human bloodhounds let loose from the 
Southern kennel. Men w'ere sent throughout 
the city, entering the buildings and sheds, 
arousing the sleepy stragglers and urging 
them across the river. The driving wind 
soon brought up a .rain, and there we 
stood to our arms for two hours, amidst dark- 
ness and the pitiless peltings of the storm. At 
last the long-looked for and joyful hour of our 
relief came. The army were all over except 
our division, and only a few minutes before 
daylight we were ordered also to cross the 
river. We passed up the main street at a hur- 
ried pace and then over the pontoons ; and, as 
the day dawned upon us, we struck the north 
shore of the Rappahannock. Though the men 
were worn out with watching and fasting and 
were seemingly indiflerent to the changes of 
fortune ; yet it was easy to see that a gleam of 
satisfaction lighted up their weather-beaten 
countenances. And, as lor myself, I am free 
to confess that the moment I touched the earth 
I drew along, strong and soul-reviving breath, 
and, from the bottom of my heart, thanked 
God that I had lived to get out of that infernal 
slaughter pen, and was once more safely landed 
on the other side of Jordan. 



Eighty-Third liegiment, P. V. 



61 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Return to Camp. Getting ready for ivinter quarters. Heconissance to Richard's Ford. Burn- 
side's Katabasis ; or the Mad March, General Hooker in command. Winter quarteis at last. 
Return of /Spring. The Battle of Chancellorsville. Col. Vincent in comma7id of the brigade. 
Guarding the Fords along the Rappahannock. The enemy discovered to be inoving tozvards the 
Potomac. March to Aldie. The Battle of Middleburg. Crossing the Potomac. Arrival at 
Frederick. General Meade in command of the army. 



With many a weary step and many a groan, | 
up the high hills, leading back from llie shores 
of the Rappahannock, we heaved ourselvew Like 
huge, round stones; and, on reaching their 
summit, we turned and cast a farewell glance 
upon that place of slvnlls, wliere so many of j 
our companions inarms lay stretched in thej 
gory embrace of death. The rain had ceased 
to fall. We had but four miles to go, but the 
mud was deep and the marching diliicult. And 
yet, compared with the horrors of that dark 
and dismal tield of carnage, our way was as a 
path strewn with flowers, and the cool breezes 
that swept over the hills from the North were 
more fragrant than the gales that blew from 
the spicy groves of Araby the Blest. On arriv- 
ing at our camp we found the cabins tilled with 
water; but in a few days the quarters were got 
into a more comfortable shape. We soon began 
to make preparations for winter quarters, to 
build more substantial cabins, to turnpike and 
drain the company streets. Our principal duty 
was that of picketing some two or three miles 
to the rear, where the enemy never annoyed 
us, nor even naade his appearance. The only 
episodes that happened during the winter were 
the reconnoissance made by our division up the 
river to Richard's Ford and Gen. Burnside's 
celebrated Kat-a-ba-sis, or Mud March. On 
the first of these occasions, the First and Sec- 
ond Brigades crossed at the Ford, drove otf the 
rebel cavalry pickets and continued the recon- 
noissance for several miles beyond. The Third 
Brigade was held in reserve on this side of the 
river, where we lay vigorously supporting the 
other two brigades until their return ; after 
which we all packed up and came back to- 
gether. 

As to that second and most important epi- 
sode, the Great Katabasis— I beg pardon for 
adopting a word which I conceive to be the 
only one sufficiently dignified and suitable to 
an expedition of that kind. For, as the word 
Anabasis means an expedition into the up- 
country, or a going up ; so, Katabasis means an 
expedition into the down-country, or a going 
down. And whether it is applied to an army 
going down to Richmond, or down into the 
bowels of the earth, the word is entirely appro- 
priate in either case. It had been previously 
announced that it was Gen. Burnside's deter- 
mination to keep moving toward Richmond, 
even if he moved but a mile a day ; and on this 
occasion I could not help observing how won- 
derfully true to the text the programme of 
such a march was carried out. The first day 
we went just a mile according to some, and a 



mile and a half according to others. Be this 
as it may, it was well that we went no further: 
for in one day's march we got stuck so deep in 
the mud that it took us two days to get out of it. 
Gen. Burnside, having ueen shortly alter re- 
lieved at his own reque-st. Gen. Hooker was 
pat in command of the army. From the Mud 
March, which took place about the21st of Janu- 
ary, 1803, until the 27th of April following, the 
army enjoyed a sea.son of uninterrupted rest 
and quiet. They settled down into winter 
quarters at once, ( which they had not fully dona 
before) well knowing that this would be the 
last of the on-to-Richmond movement that 
winter. Hooker talked a good deal about mov- 
ing but did not mean it. He fed the men well 
and gave them plenty ot time for sporting, and 
by spring they came out robust, well-rested 
and ready for any enterprise that he might ask 
of them. 



"Come, gentle spring, ethereal mildness, 
come !" I cannot say that a soldier hails the 
approach of spring with the same ecstacy that 
your poet and lover of nature does, who re- 
gards it as the harbinger of gentle breezes, 
sighing groves, blushing flowers and evening 
rambles when he can wander forth to behold 
the tender kidlings cropping daises on the dewy 
green ; for, to a soldier, it is nothing but 
the harbinger of broil and battle. But 
spring came upon us like a blushing maid- 
en arrayed in a garland of evergreens and flow- 
ers ; and, in connection with this event, I would 
beg leave to say that Gen. Butterfield having 
become chief of staff to Gen. Hooker, Gen. 
Meade was put in command of the Fifth Corps ; 
that Gen. Oriffin still retained command of the 
division ; that Col. Stockton still retained com- 
mand of the brigade, and that Col. Vincent still 
retained command of the gallant Eighty-Third. 

On the 27th of April, the army commenced 
its annual movement towards Richmond, tak- 
ing, this time, its route by way of Chancellors- 
ville. The Sixth Corps remained behind, so as 
to make a dash over into Fredericksburg and 
carry the heights, the moment the rebel army 
should be drawn off by our demonstrations up 
the river. The main portion of the army were 
to cross at United States Ford, and the Fifth 
Corps marched beyond, to Kelly's Ford, which 
they cro8.sed on the morning of the 29th. They 
crossed the Rapidan, at Ely's Ford, on the 
same day, the Third Brigade tnking the ad- 
vance of the corps and the Forty-Fourth tak- 
ing the advance of the brigade. The men 



62 



Judson's Sistory of 



plunged boldly into the cold, rapid river and, 
as the Avater took them np to the armpits, lliey 
were compelled to hold their cartridge boxe.s 
above their heads in the crossing. Having 
reached the opposite shore, which was high 
and commanding and an important position to 
be gained, they encamped for the night in line 
of battle, acting as a reserve to the cavalry who 
had gone in advance. The next day they reach- 
ed Chancellorsville, distant about four miles 
frona the ford, and were there joined by the 
Eleventh and Twelfth Corps. They remained 
there till nearlv dark, and then moved about 
half a mile and bivouacked for the night, in a 
dense body of woods. 

On the morning of the 1st of May we fell in 
and were marched about eight milfs, following 
the direction of the river towards United States 
Ford. While on the move we were suddenly 
halted, about faced and marched back in quick 
time to a point near our old position. We 
there formed line of battle to support the Re- 
gulars who were already engaged with the 
enemy. About dark we were ordered to take 
a position on the extreme left, so as to cover the 
United States Ford and enable the balance ot 
the army to cross over. The woods through 
which we inarched were on fire, the light of 
which and the rattling of our canteens gave the 
enemy notice of our movements and led them 
to open a brisk tire of musketry upon us. We 
pushed on, however, through the thick under- 
brush and over the ditches and fallen trees. 
Our orders were to follow the Seventeenth. In 
the confusion attending the march, three of the 
companies of that regiment had become separ- 
ated from the rest and taken the wrong direc- 
tion. By mistake the Eighty-Third followed 
these companies, and, after groping and feeling 
our way througii the woods for two miles, we 
came to a very deep ravine. Here we found 
that the enemy were but a short distance from 
us. It was then that Col. Viucent began to 
discover that we were on the wrong track. 
Having thrown out skirmishers, on both flanks 
and front, he at once started otf on a hunt of 
the headquarters of Gen. Griffin, in order to 
report the position he was in. Having found 
the General he was immediately ordered to 
bring his regiment to the Chancellorsville road 
and a guide was sent along for the purpose of 
directing him to it. The regiment reached the 
spot at about ten o'clorfc and then laid down 
for the rest of the night. What made this 
march particularly interesting was, that the 
most of it was performed on the double quick. 

The next morning we joined the brigade and 
took position with the rest of the corps on the 
left of the line of battle. During the day we 
felled timber and threw up strong entrench- 
ments. We remained there, without any fight- 
im;, until the morning of the 3d, when we were 
relieved by the Eleventh Corps and ordered to 
take a position on the right centre. At ten 
o'clock the night before, the Eleventh had sus- 
tained a heavy attack ; and, on this morning, 
the Third Corps, which had taken the place of 
the Eleventh, repulsed another attack of the 
rebels under Stonewall Jackson, before they 
bad got into position. The heaviest fighting at 
Chancellor ville was on the night of the 2d and 
the morning of the 3d, and was sustained, on 
our part, principally by these two corps. 

On arriving at our new position, skirmishers 
were thrown out to the front and these soon 
opened up a brisk fire with the skirmishers of 
the enemy. In the meantime picks and shovels 



were distributed among the men. who fell im- 
mediately to work and threw up strong breast- 
works. We remained all day in expectation 
of an attack ; but the attack never came. Mon- 
day we were still in the same position. There 
was some cannonading on our immediate leflt 
during the day; and towards evening two 
brigades of our division went out on a recon- 
uoissance to the front, encountered a strong 
skirmish line and drove it back. Our corps, 
however, engaged in no heavy fighting and the 
Eighty-Third lost only soiiie four or five 
wounded during the entire operations. 

Up to this time, with the exception of the suc- 
cessful attack of the enemy upon the Eleventh 
Corps, the army bad met with no reverses that 
were calculated to produce any despondency. 
On the contrary, they were in the best of spir- 
its and were confident, in case they were at- 
tacked, of a decided victory. What was our 
surpise, then, when we learned on Monday 
night that we were going back over the river! 
Before this our hearts were full of confidence; 
now we lost it. We began to think that we had 
hugged a delusive phantom to our breasts, that 
the confidence we had entertained was founded 
upon a real ignorance of our strength and po- 
sition ; and when confidence is once impaired 
by doubt, it rapidly degenerates into despon- 
dency and frequently ends in panic. For this 
latter feeling, however, there was no occasion, 
and there was none shown, for the enemy nei- 
ther attacked nor followed us up on the retreat. 
But when soldiers become once possessed with 
the idea that they are to make a retrogade 
movement, or, in other words, to retreat from 
in front of an active and vigilant enemy, they 
become proverbially averse to any further 
fighting. It requires as much, if not more, 
courage to sustain one during a retreat of this 
nature than it does to sustain one in a charge 
upon the enemy's breastworks. In the one he 
has all the stimulus of preparation and the ex- 
citement of battle to support him ; in the other, 
all the discouraging consequences of despon- 
dency and acknowledged defeat. 

We were ordered to be in readiness to fall 
back at a little after dark, but the movement of 
the infantry and artillery, which preceded us, 
was so slow that it was two o'clock in the morn- 
ing before we got fairly started. The Fifth 
corps had passed to the rear over a road cut 
through the woods for that purpose, and the 
first division was ordered to cover the retreat. 
It now commenced raining. The division filed 
by brigades to the rear, each brigade forming, 
alternately, lines of battle as the others passed 
through it. Trees were felled across the road 
and a few slight traverses thrown up as a pre- 
cautionary measure against any pursuit of the 
enemy. Our progress was slow and wearisome. 
Before we gained the open country, two miles 
from our position, it was daylight. On our 
part of the line of the retreat, the enemy did 
not attempt to follow. Lower down the river, 
towards the extreme left, he wheeled a few bat- 
teries into position and endeavored to annoy a 
portion of our troops while they were crossing ; 
but our artillery replied from the opposite 
shore, and after an hour or two, silenced or 
drove them from the position. We crossed 
over on the pontoons, which were surging to 
and fro upon the waves of the swollen torrent, 
and clambered slowly up the narrow road lead- 
ing from the ford into the open country. Hav- 
ing halted a few moments for a hasty cup of 
cottee, we again took up the line of march, and 



Eighty -Third Regiment, P. V. 



63 



late in the afternoon, again landed in our old 
quarters at Stoneman's Station. Such was the 
result of the battle of Chaneellorsville. The 
only thing accomplished by it was the death of 
Stonewall Jackson, which, according to the 
confessions of the rebels themselves, was equiv- 
alent to a lose of tifty thousand men. 

During the tirst part of May, the Twelfth and 
Seventeenth N. Sl. regiments, whose term 
of service expired, returned home, leaving the 
brigade reduced to four regiments, the Eighty- 
Third, the Forty-Fourth, the Sixteenth Mich. 
and the Twentieth Maine. The Twentieth had 
joined us at Antietam. About the 20th of May, 
Col. Stockton having resigned or been detached. 
Col. Vincent assumed command of the brigade, 
in which he continued until he was mortally 
wounded at the battle of Gettj'^sburg. His 
capacity as a commander and his bearing as a 
soldier had already made a favorable impres- 
sion upon the officers and men of the whole 
brigade, and a general feeling of satisfaction 
was manifested at this change. He soon prov- 
ed himself to be the most jjopular brigade com- 
mander we had yet had ; and. under his leader- 
ship, the famous old Light Brigade began to 
recover some of its former renown for disci- 
pline and soldierly conduct. The command 
of the Eighty- riiird then devolved upon Capt. 
Woodward, who led it through all the cam- 
paigns, in which it took a part, from that time 
up lO the Battle of the Wilderness, on the 5th 
of May, 1864; with the exceptions, I believe, of 
Mine Run and Rappahannock Station. 

On the 22d the brigade moved two miles to 
the rear, into a less crowded place, and pitched 
a new camp. The indications were that we 
would stay there for some time, and according- 
ingly we went to work, turnpiking the slreets, 
erecting bowers of pine and cedar, and inaking 
various other preparations for the cleanliness 
and comfort of the camps. While engaged in 
this truly rural occupation we were ordered to 
strike tents, move further up and go to guarding 
the fords on the Rappahannock. We reached 
the river after a short march, and Col. Vincent 
proceeded to assign each regiment of the brig- 
ade to its position. The Forty-Fourth was sta- 
tioned at Bank's Ford; the Sixteenth at a mill- 
dam a little further up, the Twentieth at Uni- 
ted States, and the Eighty-Third at Richard's, 
a few miles above United States Ford. At 
these two laiter points batteries of artillery- 
were also posted. Col. Vincent made his head- 
quarters on a hill, near Benson's Mill, and not 
far from where the Sixteenth was stationed. 
The First and Second Brigades, which were 
posted still further up, picketed the river at 
different jjoints between Richard's and Kelly's 
Fords. 

After remaining a week here, the brigade 
was relieved by other troops and we again 
broke camp and moved to Kemper's Ford, a 
few miles further up, and again commenced 
picketing the river. Col. Vincent established 
his headquarters in the door-yard of the house 
of a Mrs. James, which was a nice grassy plot, 
shaded by great overbrancbing trees. The 
Eighty-Third was stationed about three quar- 
ters of a mile from the ford, near the house of 
Mrs. Kemper, or Mrs. Somebody, whose hus- 
band was absent at the time in the rebel army. 
Nothing occurred, during our stay here, wor- 
thy of mention. The rebels were posted, like- 
wise, at every ford along the river, and they 
and our men had nothing to do but to while I 
away the time as easily as they could, smoke | 



the pipe of peace and look lazily across the 
river at each other. In the meantime our cav- 
alry had been on the alert and had discovered 
that Lee was about to take the ofllensive, and 
that he was already on the march, by way of 
the Shenandoah Valley, towards Pennsylvania. 

The whole army of the Potomac were now in 
motion, and, on the 13th of June, we broke 
camp at Kemper's Ford and began our march 
towards the north. That night we encamped 
at Morrisville. The next daj'- we inarched to 
( 'atlett's Station and, ou the loth, we reached 
Manassas Junction where we remained two 
days. Lee's exact object not being yet devel- 
oped, it was necessary that we sliould move 
cautiously along the interior line of march, so 
as to cover Washington and, at the same time, 
closely watch his movement. Had we uncov- 
ered Washington too quick.ly, he might have 
taken the back track, rushed through the 
mountain gaps, swung around in our rear and 
endangered the s ifety of the Capital. It was 
n« cessary, also, that we should keep equal pace 
with the enemy, lest he should steal a march 
upon us and get into Pennsylvania, or to Balti- 
more, before the army could arrive there to 
thwart his purpose. He accordingly kept his 
cavalry, in large force, moving along the base 
of the Blue Ridge, watching our movements 
and trying to deceive us in regard to his own. 
On reaching Mannassas, otir artillery was im- 
mediately put into position, ready for an attack ; 
and the infantry so disposed as to form line of 
battle at a moment's notice. It seems that our 
cavalry had discovered the enemy's cavalry 
some miles to the front and, lest it might prove 
to be the advance of theirinfantry, these timely 
precautions were taiien. They did not make 
their appearance, however, htit kept on in their 
route, along the base of the mountains and in 
the direction of Loudon Valley and Harper's 
Ferry. 

On the 17th we made a long march, through 
clotids of dust and beneath a scorching sun, 
and at sundown reached Gum Spring, some 
six oreight miles east from Aldie. On this march 
the men, sweating beneath the heat and burden 
of their knapsacks, fell out in crowds and 
could be seen lying along every little stream, 
where a drop of water could be tound to quench 
their raging thirst, or a bush to shelter them 
from the rays of the burning sun. We laid at 
Gum Spring until the 19th and then moved to 
Aldie. On the morning of the 21st, before day- 
light, we were aroused from our slumbers and 
ordered to move towards Middleburg in sup- 
port of the cavalry, which was expected to 
attack the rebel cavalry force on that day. 

On the same day that we reached Gum 
Spring, the cavalry under Pleasanton had come 
upon the mounted legions of Hampton and 
Stewart at Aldie and, after a sharp engage- 
ment, had driven them back towards Middle- 
burg. But it was found necessary to drive 
them still farther, in order to unmask the 
movements of their infantry ; for the presump- 
tion was that, if they had any infantry on this 
side of the Blue Ridge, they would come up to 
the support of the cavalry in case they were 
driven back into the mountain, passes. As the 
country through this portion of Virginia was 
very broken and hilly, abounding in stone 
fences admirably adapted for the purposes of 
defence, Gen. Pleasanton did not think the 
cavalry were alone equal to the undertaking ; 
and accordingly he requested Gen. Meade to 
send a division of infantry to his support. The 



64 



Judson's History of 



First Division, then temporarily commanded 
by Gen. Barnes, was assigned to that import- 
ant duty, and by Gen. Barnes tlie Third Brig- 
ade was designated as the one to form the most 
active support to Gen. Pleasanton in the roin- 
ing engagement. At midnight, on the night of 
the 20lb, Col. Vincent received order.s to report 
to Gen. Pleasanton, at the Berkeley House just 
beyond Aldie, fur instructions. Accompanied 
by a single staff othcer he set out, in the dark 
and rain, for Pleasanton'shead quarters. From 
him he learned, for the first time, the part his 
brigade was to take on the next day and, after 
some further consultation, he returned to 
camp. At three o'clock the brigaiie was in 
motion. The cavalry were already on the ad- 
vance, and their skirmisliers were then con- 
fronting the skirmishers of the enemy a little 
beyond Middletown. The plan of operation 
was that, while the cavalry corps, supported 
by the Third Brigade, should attack and drive 
the enemy in their front, the Firsi and Second 
Brigades should remain at Middleburg and 
hold themselves in reserve. Gen. Buford's di- 
vision of cavalry was to make ft detour to the 
enemy's left and roll them up on that flank ; 
but for some rea.son, perhaps becaitse there was 
no necessity, this couteniiilated movement did 
not take place. 

On reaching Middleburg, which took place 
at about six in the morning, we tiled in to the 
left of the town and made a detour through the 
fields, so as to bring up on the right flank of the 
enemy, who was strongly posted just bej^ond 
the place. Here we took position on the left of 
Gen. Gregg's cavalry, on the Ashby's Gap road. 
The dismounted men of the enemy were in po- 
sition on the south side of the road, behind a 
series of stone walls running at right auglps 
with it. Their cavalry was posted in the fields, 
and a battery of six guns was placed near the 
road on the left. A belt of woods, some two 
hundred yards wide, masked their position. 

Between seven and eight o'clock General 
Pleasanton sent orders to Col. Vincent to ad- 
vance at least one regimentof infantry and dis- 
lodge the enemy's carbineers from one of the 
stone walls in front. The Sixteenth Michigan 
under Lieut. Col. Welch, was accordingly di- 
rected to press forward and carry out the order. 
At the same time Col. Vincent sent forward the 
Forty-Fourth, under Col. Rice, and the Twen- 
tieth Maine, (tempo.'arily command* d by Lieu- 
tenant Col. Connor, of the Forty-Fourth,) with 
directions to press the enemy hard and pick off" 
the gunners from his battery. The Eighty- 
Third, under Capt. Woodward, was directed to 
move rapidly through the woods, to our left, 
keeping his force concealed, and the instant he 
had passed the stone walls to emerge and take 
the enemy in fliink and rear. 

The movement was entirely successful. 
Finding their position turned, the enemy fled 
in confusion, and the Sixteenth advanced on the 
double quick, on the right, and compelled them 
to abandon one piece of artillery, a fine Blakely 
gun. 

We now moved on together with the cavalry 
and drove them from this position to other stone 
walls in their rear, dislodging them at each 
attack, until we drove them across Cornell's 
Run. Here they made a sharp resistance and 
opened an artillery fire from which we suffered. 
Our skirmishers soon forded the stream, again 
flanked their p^jsition and started them on the 
run. In this way we drove them about four 
miles, when, on the opposite side of Goose 



Creek, they again took up a position behind 
the stone walls and made another sharp resist- 
ance. The banks of the creek at this point 
were high, steep and thickly wooded. The 
Kighty-Third had been ordered to ford the 
stream and again fall upon their right flank ; 
but, as the depth made it impracticable, they 
again clambered up the bluff and came out into 
the road Justin time to take part in the glorious 
affray that followed. The enemv were posted 
behind two stone walls; one at the foot of the 
hill, a few rods beyond the bridge, and the 
other at the t(^p and almost concealed by the tall 
growth of wheat through which it ran. The 
moment we came in sight both of these lines 
ar(jse and poured a volley into our skirmishers. 
Now iiappeued one of the liveliest and most ex- 
citing times we had ever yet experienced : when 
we were carried along, as it were, by the very 
tempest, whirlwind and. I might say, joy of 
battle into the midst of the enemy's ranks. At 
a bound the skirmishers of the Sixteenth, fol- 
lowed by those of the Eighty-Third, dashed 
over the bridge with a general yell, and shout- 
ing "Shoot them!" "'Jake them prisoners!" 
rushed up the hill, drove them from behind the 
walls and again put them to flight, taking a 
number of prisoners, both oflicers and men. 
Altogether, our brigade was mainly instrumen- 
tal in driving the enemy six miles from their 
original position; and we kept on, following 
them until we came in sight of Upperville, near 
Ashby's Gap. In doing this we had travelled 
(together with the morning's march and the 
detours made in turning the enemy's positions) 
nearly twenty miles ; our men were too much 
fatigued to follow any further, and it was 
deemed advisable to halt and leave the pursuit 
to the cavalry. While resting there we wit- 
nessed several cavalry charges in which our 
men drove the rebels successively from one 
position to another ; nor did they return until 
they had driven them clear through Ashby's 
Gap to the other side of the Blue Ridge. 

The enemy's force, engaged on this occasion, 
consisted of two divisionsof cavalry command- 
ed by Jeb. Stewart and Wade Hampton, and 
were supported by powerful batteries of artil- 
lery. The cannonading was very heavy on 
both sides, but our artillery proved the most 
effective. The brigade was so skilfully han- 
dled that it lost but two killed and eighteen 
wounded. The Eighty-Third had only one 
man wounded and nona killed. This was a 
very small loss for a running fight of over ten 
hours' duration. It was probable that Gen. 
Meade attributed it to the ability displayed by 
our brigade commander, when he said that 
he wished Vincent was a brigadier general and 
that he had him to command a divisien. 

After remaining a while near Upperville in 
svipport of the batteries (to which duty the brig- 
ade had been assigned after halting for rest) we 
were relieved by the first brigade; after which 
we marched back t\vo or three miles towards 
Middleburg and bivouacked on the farm of a 
Mr. Glasscock, at whose house Col. Vincent 
and his stalf made their headquarters for the 
night. " Oh, dear," said Glassy, "I wish this 
thing was over with!" He then informed us 
that Stuart and Hampton had taken dinner at 
his house that day, and that during the can- 
nonading he and bis family had been com- 
pelled to take refuge in the cellar. He set 
before us a good supper and breakfast and ap- 
peared very anxious to receive greenbacks in 
payment. The next morning we moved on to 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



65 



Middlebursr, where we found all the division 
staff ei'joyiiiK tHptnst-lves at the bougie of Gt^n. 
Rogers, an old Vir<ziiiia geiitli'inan "all o( t\w 
oi(i(-n tiine." Making tUt' be>t of a had btr- 
gain. he liiid thrown o()en bis bou-^e to General 
BarriHs and bis wtalf sivea ilit^in the u-<e of his 
servants, and refused to receive anyth n^i io 
return. He was hail-fel'ovv-well-fnet, social 
and agreeable; and when we afterwards got 
inio Pennsj^lvania, wh )se homes we liad come 
to protect, and s.w the extortions practiced 
upon our soldiers bv sotne of her citizens, we 
cou d not hel)) drawing a strong contrast be 
tween the two classes of n)en. 

'I'hat evening we re'umed to Aldie, where 
we remained until tbe25tb. During that time 
the regiment did picket duty near the Monroe 
House which was situated about two niil'S 
from the town. We found it to be a fine old 
Virginia mansion built of brick, with a high 
portico supported by pillars, and standing on 
an elevated spot of ground in the midst of a 
tine old park. The farm, which was in a some 
what neglected state of cultivation, contained 
several hundred acres of land. It was just 
such a place as one might suppose a President 
of the United States would ! hoose to live in, 
after retiring from the turmoils of ofEre to the 
shades of private life. It is now owned by 
Major Fairfax, who was at that time Inspector 
General on Longstreel's statf. The country 
roundabout Aldie abounded in names which 



were famous in history, — the Monroes, the 
Berkeleys, ihe Carters, the Mercers and o'hers 
— and tb'ir family mmsions were still to be 
-een. 'I he family seat of the M^rc-'rs was sur- 
rounded bv a tine pmk f»f great, old Engli&h 
oaks eni-losed by a hitih brick wall, with a 
drawhiidiie after tiie old baronial style; but 
ttie Mercers bad pissed away, and tlieir walls 
were broken down, and t be trardens were over- 
grown and choked up with thorns and brambles. 
Un th" night of the 24 h it rain-d hani and 
on the next dav, we took up our line of march 
towards the Potomac. On reaching Goose 
Creek we found ihe l)ridge gone and the stream 
swollen and rapid. Trees were felled a<ross 
the creek and rails levied on from iheneighbor- 
ini; fences. With these in their hands the m-'n 
plunged into the torrent and constructed a 
bridge for the rest of the corps to cp ss over. 
We passed through lee^burg, wided the Poto- 
mac at Edwards' Ferry and continued the 
march tor ten miles beyond. On the 26th we 
arrived within two miles of Frederick and 
halted for two days. While there intelligence 
came that Gen. Howker had been removed and 
that Gen. Meade had been placed in cwmmand 
of the army. As Gen. Meade was already re- 
garded as one of the best general officers in Ihe 
army, this change of commanders was received 
with quiet but apparent satisfaction. The com- 
mand of the Fifth Corps then devolved upon 
Gen. Sykes. 



66 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The. March to Gettysburg, and the Battles of the 2d and 3d of July. 
Vincent. 



Death of General Strong 



It was now ascertained that the main boiy 
of Lee's army had crossed at Williamsport 
and Shepherdstown, and made their way info 
.Pennsylvaniii. His whole army was in c;»(np 
at Cbambersbur^j the day afier we reached 
Frederii-k, and the indications were that he 
was on his way to Baltimore. Pn the mornina; 
of tlie 28ih we were again in motion. We 
made a detour towards ihe Northeast, so as to 
intercept him on his way betwet-n Chamb^rs- 
burg and that city. On tlie niiiht of the 30ih 
we encamped at Union abonf three miles Irom 
the Peimsylvania line. During the whole 
march the spirits of the men of the Eighty- 
Third had increased in confidence as ihey 
neared Ihe boundaries of Pennsylvania, and 
when thf^y found that they were about to enter 
the threshobJ of their native State and figiit 
upon lier soil, tht-ir enthusiasm knew no 
bonnds. The next morning when crossing the 
line. Col. Vincent sent back word to tUe Regi 
ment that Ave wei-e now on the soil of old Penn- 
sylvania — to hang out the banner on the out 
ward wall, and let our march be aecom))anieil 
by the sound of the ear-piercing fife and spirit 
stirring drum. In a moment >ergeaiit Hogers 
bad unfurled the flag of the Eighty-Third to the 
winds. The drum corps struck up our thrill- 
ing ohl national air of Yankee Doodle, and as 
the glorious old baniKir, shattered and rent by 
the sho(;ks of a dozen battle fields, floated once 
more proudly upon tiie inspiring bree/es of the 
old Keystone State, long and loud shouts of joy 
from ten thousand iron throats broke upon the 
morning air. 'I he enthusiasm was contagious. 
In a few inoments it had spread from regiment 
to regiment, and from brigade to brigade, until 
every banner was tl\Mng, every tife screaming, 
and every drum beating. For the first tinn^ 
had those peaceful vallies been awakened from 
their quiet slumbers by the heavv tramp ot 
armed legions about to engage in a death grap- 
ple with the Ibe, who had invaded an J dese- 
crated their soil. We pressed forward rapidly 
for a tight was already going on at Getty>-biirir 
The enemy was concentrating, and it was ne- 
cessary that the whole army should reinforce 
our advance corps without delay. Late in the 
afternoon we reached Hanover. Here we found 
that but a few hours before Ki^patrick had en- 
countered the enemy's cavalry and driven 
them back in di.sorder. We halted but two 
hours and then pressed on ; for here we re- 
ceived the intelligenee that the First Corfis had 
encountered a superior force of the eneiuy, 
with unfavorable results, and that Gen. Rf-y- 
nolds WHS killed. Night soon settled around 
us. Passing through the villages on the way, 
the women came out and sang the Star Span- 
gled Banner and other national airs, and were 



cl.eered in return by the soldiers. At two 
o'clock that night we halted in the woods, three 
miles from Gettysburg, and after a scanty 
meal, laid down to rest. Qy daylight we were 
11 1) again and on the march. lOarly in the 
morning we reached the tield and found a line 
of battle supporting the artillery. Here we 
formed, loo, in order of battle, and laid down 
to rest, and were held as reserves until the ar- 
rival of the Sixth ('orps. 

About ten o'clock thu Sixth Corps came up, 
after a. heavy march of th rty-six miles, and 
we then moved towards the centre. It is snid 
that we were ordered to the left. I do not 
know what became of the Second and Third 
Divisions (the Regulars and the Pennsylvania 
R' serves), but the position which the First Di- 
vision tooli was nearer the centre than the left 
of the line. We moved very leisure y towards 
the place, and on the way were once halted and 
drawn up by brigades in columns of division, 
on the banks of a s'.ream where stood a mill. 
Rem-)ining tliere awhile we moved forward by 
the flank over the stream and up a hill, and 
there, having formed again m columns by divi- 
sion, we at:ain halted and laid down to rest. 
A.1I this while skirmishing was going on at the 
front. At tour o'clock in the afternoon the Third 
Brigade was detached from th^ division, and 
moved at a double (juick for over a mile to the 
extreme left. There we found that the Third 
Corps were already engaged with the enemy, 
and that they were being hard pressed. The 
fhird Division might have arrived before lis, 
as we joined on their left after we had formed 
in line of battle. The first and second brigades 
must have followed soon after, as they took a 
position somewhere between the Third Corps 
and the Pennsylvania Reserves. 

The position to which we marched, on the 
extreme left, was what was afterwards known 
as Little lloiind Top. It was an irregular 
rocky rise of ground, sloping down on two 
sides, (the front and re ir) to low marshy ground, 
and might have been a hundred feet above its 
level. It con-<isted of a huge, solid rork, cov- 
ered over with a thousand other loose boulders 
of every size and shape, and was most admir- 
ably adapted for a defensive position. Upon 
the top of the solid rouk, the access to which 
was very steep and ditticult, several of our 
batteries had been hauled and planted. Oa 
the left was Hig Hound Top, a high, rrcky hill, 
covered with woods and overlooking Little 
Round Top. Between the two hills there was 
i small vale (not a ravine as it is commonly 
called,) about a hundred feet in width, and 
covered with trees, but rather open an<i under- 
brushed. This vale might now be appropriate- 
ly named the Valley of the Shadow of Death. 



Eighty-Tliird Begiment, P. V. 



On reaching the ground, Col. Vincent pro- beliind the rocks, they poured in a deadly lire 
ceeded at once to post the bri^jade iu line ofj upon our troops. Hundreds of them approai.'h- 
battle. The ie>;iineiit.s were ordered to take ed even wiihin fifieen yards of our line, but 
their places just as they had come in the or lerjthey approached only to be shotdovvu or hurled 
of inarch ; the Forty-Fourtli, unJer Col. Rict^, i l)ack covered with fiaping wounds. It was a 



on the right, the Twentieth, Col. Chamberlain, 
on the l.-ft, the •Sixteenth, Lieut. Col. Welch, 
on the right centre, and the Eighty- Third, 
Capl. Woodward on the left centre. Seeing that 



death grapple in which assailant and assailed 
seem resolved to win or fall in the strugt^le. 
The enemy had everything to gain if they car- 
ried the position ; everything to lose if thev 



the Si.xteenth would thus intervene between failed, and they fought most desper-itely, and 

tlie Forty. Fourth and Eighty-Third, Col. Kice determitiedly. Perhaps the whole history of 

rode up to Vincent and said, "Colonel, the | the war does not present a more desperate or 

J']ighty-Third and Forty-Founh have aUvavs: heroic struggle for the mastery than the little 

fought side by sde in every battle, and I wish! valley between those hills presented on that 

that they may do the same to-day." Colonel day. But the men of the Eighty-Third and 

Vincent immediately ordered Colonel Welch, Fiirty- Fourth stood as firm as the rocks by 

of the Sixteenth to take his position on the wliich they foug it. The dt ummers had thrown 

right of the brigade, thus placing the Forty- aside their drums, seized the musket, and taken 

Fourth on the immediate right of the Eighty- their place in the ranks. The coh)r-bearer 

Third. This order was at once executed. Ti'ie planted his color in the crevice of a rock, seized 

line now formed by the brigade was a quarter! a musket, too, and fought like a hero. " For a 

circle, lapping an)und the base of the hdl and I whole hour," says Col. Rice, in his otHcial re- 

frontmg J^ig Jiound Top and the Valley of the port, "the enemy tried in vain to break the 

Shadow of Death. The right of the Sixteenth , lines of the Forty-F(jurth and Eighty-Third, 

was more exposed than the rest of the brigade cliarging a^ain and again, within a lew vard.s 

and, as the event proved, they had a ditticullj of those unflinching troops : but every charge 

position to maintain, Skirmi.-.hers were sent I was repulsed with terrible slaughter." 

to the front— those of the Eighty-Third under: Despairing of succe-s at this point, he next 

connnand of Capt. D. P. Jones, and those of ; made a desperate attack upon the extreme right 

the Forty-Fourth under the command of Ca^it. I of the lirigade. The Sixteenth, though a val- 

Larrabee. |iant regiment, not having the same protection 

This was but the work of live m nutes' time, land more exposed to their tire, became some- 

and scarcely hail the troopi been put in llu -, , wliat thrown into confusion, and a portion of 

when a loud, herce, distant yell was heard, as; them ran to the rear. At this moment the One 

if all pandemonium had broken loose and J Hundred and Fortietli New York, who had 

Joined lu the chorus of one grand, universal ; been sent as reinlorcemeots, appeared on the 

war-whoop. Ou looking to the left ami front, , Ijrow of the hill and receiving a volley frotn 

we saw Hood's whole division, of Longsireet'si the rebe:s, which killed their Colonel, O'Rourke, 

corps, <A'er a quarter of a mile otf, charging in |atid a uumberof otherofficers, were also thrown 

three lines on a double-quick, and, with liayo , into confusion. The danger was now pressing, 

nets tixed, coming down itpiii us. The ene and in a momH'nt more the rebels would have 

my had had uis eye upou this position, but he! broken through and perhaps have driven our 

was too late. He was now determined to atone! troops from the ground and swung around 

fortheloss by driving usoutof it. He saw that i upon the rear of the army. Seeing the danger 

it was the extreme left of our line, and a sinmgi Col. Vincent descended from the rock, and wTth 

position to attack, and could he, by an over- 1 the most superhuman exertions of himself and 

whelming force, dislodge tis from it, he would' his ofticers, drove the men to the front, and 

iiave a splendid held ot operations on the left; again the onward surge of the rebelliost was 

ttank and in the rear of our army, the moment checked. But Ci)l. Vincent's valor on this oc- 

the enemy had emerged from the woods and casion cost him his life. He had become a 

begun the charge, the batteries posted on Little! prominent mark for the sharpshooters of tte 

Round Top opened upon ihem. We could see enemy, and he fell mt)rtally w<mnded by a niin- 

meu, at every bursting of the sheds, drop from nio bulletin the left groin. "This is thelburth 

the ranks. The momeut, too, that Col. Vincent or tifih time they have shot at me," sa.d he 

saw the enemy's force he fully comprehended "and they have hit me at last." In a few mo- 

the danger. We had less than eleven hundred ' metits he was laid upon a stretcher and carried 

men. We were about to sustain the shock of i to the rear. 

a wliole division. Turning to Adj't. Gen. (;iark, | The command of the brigade now devolved 
"Go," said he, "and tell Gen. Barnes to send ! noon Col. Kice, of the Forty Fourth. That 
me reinforcements at once: the enemy are com- jotiicer parsed at once along theline and notified 
ing against us with an overwhelming force." the olficers and men of his own regiment, that 
Dismounting from his horse, and sending him to, he was about to assume command of the brig- 
the rear, he mounted a rock that he might over- jade and that they must hold the position to the 
look and direct the operationsof the iaii^end last. The command of the Forty-Fourth was 
ing battle. On came the enemy, running and | then assumed by Lieut. Col. Conner, 
yelling like hends, the artillery on Little Round The enemy having been repulsed on the 
Top making huge gaps in their ranks at every I right, the fury of his attack, in that quarter 
step. They soon neared our position, and our had partially subsided, although a brisk tiring 
skirmishers were driven in, the enemy follow- 1 was still kept up, both there and along the 
ing closely in their rear. They at once attacked ' whole line. His force had become scattered in 
the wiiole line, but threw the weight of their, the onset and had posted themselves behind 
force against tlie centre where lay ilie Eighty-: trees and rocks without regard to order or line 
Third and Poriy-Fourtb. Inan instantashetit of battle. He had not yet discovered our ex- 
of smoke and tiame burst from our whole line, treme left, that portion'of the line being par- 
which made the enemy reel and stagger, and tially concealed by the undergrowth of trees, by 
fall back in confusion. But soon rallying they i rocks and by the broken nature of the ground, 
advanced again to the assault. Taking position | After a good deal of exertion he got Ms troops 



68 



Judson's History of 



into line again and nnarched by the risjht flank 
throilyh Ihe little vall»^y and suddenly luitin;^, 
faced t(> the front and mH(Je a despernie charge 
up)nthe Twentieth Maine, the Eighty- Third 
and Forty Fourth giving them a volley as they 
passed. The Tweiiiielh also gave thun a vol 
ley as ihey approached, which staggered, hni 
did not chfck the fury of their onsft. Thi- 
regiment had been tiring rapidly during the 
fight and did not have their bayonets fixed; 
and>uch was the rapidity ot the enemy's move- 
ments that they did not have time to tix 
bayonets before the assailants were upon them. 
But when the enemy fell upon ttiis regiment 
they counted without their host. The Twentieth, 
undaunted and undismayed, in a twinkling 
clubbed their muskets, brained a number of 
their assailants on the spot, and drove the rest 
bick into the Valley of the Shadow of Death 



with a ye'l, broke their lines, captured a num- 
ber, and drove the rest from his front. As he 
was driving them, five regiments of the re- 
serve-', condmted by 1 ieut. Gitford, who had 
gone for reinf ircements, came up under the 
oommtnd of C il. Fisher, and joined in the bat- 
tle cry. This was taken up t>y the rest of the 
brigale, and the enemy seeing that we were 
reinlbrced, fell baiik in gr at disorder. The 
Twentieth continued the pursuit, their line 
swing around upon a moving pivot, like a 
great gate upon a post, until itt* left had swept 
down through the valley and up the sides of Big 
Round Top. 'I he skirmishers of the Eighty- 
Third also dashed forward in the pursuit and 
captured seventy-four prisoners and about 
three hundred muskets. The whole brigade 
captured, in all, over five hundred prisoners, 
including two colonels and fifteen other corn- 



Having again reformed they still kept pressing! missioned officers, and over one thousand 



to the left and were now in rear of the brigade 
This was one of the most critical periods dur- 
ing the whole engagement. 

Col. Chamberlain had, durieg the early part 
of the battle, with commendable prudence, 
bent his left around at right angles to the rest 
of the line, so as to protect as much as possi- 
ble, the rear of the brigade, should the enemy 
succeed in getting around too far to the left. 
They now opened a severe fire upon this left 
■wing, and the bullets began to come into the 
rear of the Eighty-Third and the other regi- 
ments of the brigade. Oapt. Woodward im- 
mediately sent Lieut. Gifford, the acting Adju- 
tant, to Col. Chamberlain, to ascertain if the 
enemy were turning his left. In the mean- 
time, fearing that in case the enemy continued 
to press back the left of the Twentieth, he 
would close up the only avenue of escape (a 
small space of ground between his line and the 
large rock in his rear), he ordered the centre of 
the Eighty-Third, which the reader will recol- 
lect was posted in shape of a quarter circle, to 
fall back some ten or tiiteen paces. This move 
ment straightened his line and brought him 
into a position where he could better command 
the passage, in case the enemy attempted to 
pain it. At the same time the regiment kept 
firing at the enemy in their front. 

Gifford went through a storm of bullets with 
the greatest coolness and courage, and execu 
ted his commission to Col. Chamberlain. The 
Colonel sent back word that the enemy were 
pressing his left and had almost doubled it 
back upon the right, and wanted to know if he 
could send him a company. Woodward re- 
turned an answer that as his front was also 
hard pressed he c mid not spare a company, 
but that if Col. Chamberlain would move his 
right to the left he would move the Highty- 
Third also and fill up the gap. Col. ChamOer- 
lain at once moved his regiment to the left, so 
that the Twentieth now occupied a line perpen- 
dicular to what it had at first, and protecteri 
fully the right flank of the brigade. This baf- 
fled the attempts of the enemy to turn our left, 
and in tifieen minutes their fires began to 
slacken. The favorable moment had now ar 
rived, and Col. Chamberlain seized it ere it had 
passed. The Twentieth now became the assail- 
ants in turn. Their ranks had become so 
thinned by the battle that they had but a little 
more than a strong skirmish line with which 
to attack the faltermg columns of the enemy. 
But yet Col. Chamberlain determined to make 
the attempt. At the wo:d of command the 
Twenlietii rushed down upon the rebel host 



stand of arins. 

While the Twentieth were driving the rebels 
over Round Top, an incident occurred not un- 
worthy of notice. An officer and two men be- 
longing to that regiment had, while in pursuit, 
got separated from their command, and just as 
the officer was turning the brow of the hill he 
discovered before him a rebel officer and fifteen 
men. He at once called upon him to surren- 
der, and they threw down their arms. He 
then ordered them to march towards our line, 
which they promptly did; and when they had 
reached the ravine near where our tioops lay, 
the rebel officer turned and asked him where 
were his men ? He told him that he would 
soon come to them. The rebel officer beginning 
to suspect that he had been outwitted, exclaim- 
ed, "That is a Yankee trick, sure eni.ugh; 
three men to capture fiftef^n !" He was struck 
with so much admiration ot the exploit that, 
taking from his haversack a silver cup he pre- 
sented it to the office re a compliment to his 
strategy in capturing so many with so small a 
force. 

At this time, also, occurred an instance of 
bravery and humanity in one of the men of the 
Eighty-Third. A member of comapany H— I 
cannot learn his name; if I could I would 
blazon it in letters of gold* — went out alone and 
soon returned, supporting a wounded rebel 
soldier. The wounded man was laid on a 
stretcher and carried to the hospital. Our hero 
went out the second time and brought in an- 
other in the same way, and being fatigued from 
his exertions, asked some of his comrades to go 
along and assist him in bringing in others. 
They went out a piece with him and seeing the 
rebels posted behind the rocks, firing at them, 
refuseii to go any further. The brave lellow 
went on alone, telling ihem to come on, that 
there was no danger. Just as he was in the act 
of raising another rebel soldier, he was shot 
dead by the very comrades of the man he was 
attempting t-") succor. The next day our hero 
and the rebel soldier were both found dead, 
lyitjg side by side. The wounded rebel had 
died during the night. A more sublime in- 
siance of courage and humanity was perhaps 
never before exhit)iied upon the battle field. 

The Twentieth kept up the pursuit, followed 
and supported on its right bv a heavy line of 
skirmishers from Ihe Eighty-Third and the rest 
of the brigade, until they oad carried the 



* [ have since learned that his name was Philip 
Grioe. Joseph G. Nell is of company G. was also 
wounded in the hand while in the actof assisting a 
wounded rebel soldier ofi'the Held. 



Eighty-TJiird Regiment, P. V. 



69 



heights of Round Top and driven the fleeing 
rebels down tbe oti er side. l>ut not deeming 
it prurient to remain longer without more sup 
port, Col. Chamberlain (Ordered the regiment 
back again into iheJr old position ; for the rebel 
prisoners had already stated that tiut one 
brigade of tlieir division had made the aitai-l^;, 
and ihat they were supported by two o( three 
more brigades w lio were then forming for an- 
other attacic, and that they wanted to be taken 
to the rear as quickly as possible. But the ex- 
pected attack never catiie, and about darlc the 
Twentieth, with twt) regiments of the Reserves, 
went up again, took position and threw up 
breastworks of the rocks. About ten o'clock 
the Reserves moved out, and the Twentietli 
remained there alone about an hour, when 
Col, Chamberlain sent word to Col. hice that 
be wanted the Eighty- Third. About midnight 
the Kighty-Third went up, took position on the 
right of the Twentieth, and comncencfd also 
throwing up breast ivorks of stone. Hhortly 
afterward the Reserves were moved forward to 
the base of the Big Round Top, joining the 
right of the Eighty-Third, and commenced for- 
tifying themselves In the same manner. So 
th-^t when morning came, the left of the line of 
battle was advanced, runnmgtrom Little Round 
Top through the valley to the Summit of Big 
Round Top, and we now held the ground thai 
the enemy had held the day before. 

Thus ended, and ended gloriously, the second 
day of the battle of Gettysburg. The lield, and 
the day, and the enemy, too, were ours. A 
small brigade of four regiments, scarcely num- 
bering eleven hundred and tifty men,-- had re- 
sisted and hurled back the best part of a divis- 
ion of the enemy's chosen troops, and had sav- 
ed the army from rout and perhaps the nation 
from disgrace. It has l)een asserted that the 
■J^eserves canied Round Top, and did the heavy 
fighting on 'he left of the army on that day. 
But this is not the truth of history, as more 
than a thousand eyes have borne witness. The 
Pennsylvania Re-^ex'ves have done too much 
splendid lighting, to stand in need of claiming 
a victory that does not belong to them. Their 
presence undoubtedly did, at the favwrable mo- 
ment, add a moral weight to the enemy's over- 
throw ; but his overthrow would have been ac- 
complished without the aid of eitlier the Re- 
serves of any other reinforcements whatever. 

The rebel forces engaged on this occasion 
were principally Alabama and Texas troops. 
Several of the i^risoners boasted that this was 
the first time they had ever been whipped. 
Among the prominent prisoners were Colonel 
Belger, and a Colonel Powell. Belger was a 
small, bald headed man, apparently between 
fifty and sixty, and had formerly been a mem- 
berof C.>nt;ress from Texas. He hud received a 
severe wound, I think in the breast, and spoke 
and acted as if he was evidently tired of the 
war. He was pleasant and ("ourteous in his 
manners and conversation, and this moved in 
us a feeling ot strong sympathy for his sutfer- 
inds. As I sat and looked upon that deluded 
old gentlemen, who had once occupied tlie 
proud and comfortible positinti of a nieinberof 
the (!• ingress of the United Slates, now lying at 
midnight upon the bare ground, with nothing 
to shield his aged and shivering limbs from the 
cold, his wound gaping and his frame writhing 



* The exact n mber of muskets- in each reaiment 
•was as follows: 20 h Maine, *j8 ; 44t.h N. Y„ 321; 83d 
Penna., 274; 16th Mich., 188; total, 1141. 



in the tortures of that wound, afar from his 
family and children—! could not but reflect 
upon his f(,lly in this his attempt to overthrow 
the government of his lathers and to engage in 
the vain pursuit of military glory. The other 
Colonel, Powell, was a man of quile a different 
stamp. He was one of your morose, sullen 
men, who imagine that to be insolent in the 
hour of defeat and humdiation is to be brave 
and resolute. " Yon have peppered us pretty 
badly," he observed with an air of self satis- 
faction to Caijfain Woodward, "but you'll get 
the worst of it 3'et V.'efore it's over!" He had 
been wounded in the breast and was sent back 
to the hospital where the other rebel wounded 
lay. It was afterwards reported that he at- 
tempted to get up a conspiracy among the rebel 
wounded at the host:)ital, and was sent to Wash- 
ington in chains. For the truth of this story, 
however, I cannot vouch. 

In this battle the Eighty-Third lostonly eight 
men killed upon the field and thirty-eight 
wounded, of whom six afterwards died of their 
wounds. •■ Such a disparity of loss, compared 
with the amount of fighting done, was unpre- 
cedented in the annals of that regiment; and 
can only be accounted for on the supposition 
that each man availed himself of the ample 
protection afforded by the rocks and by the na- 
ture of the ground. These brave men have the 
glory of having laid down thtir lives on the 
soil of old Pennsylvania, in protecting lier 
hearth-stones from the tread of the invader, 
and in one of the fiercest and most sanguinary 
battles which the history of this or any other 
war has recorded. I^et their names forever 
live in the hearts of the people of Northwestern 
Pennsylvania. 

The only line officer bplonging to the Eighty- 
Third wh)fell upon this day was Capt. .John 
M. Sell. He was not on duty with the regi- 
ment at the time. He had been acting as Pro- 
vost Marshal of the division since the May pre- 
vious and on this occasit^n was engaged in tak- 
ing charge of prisoners and preventing strag- 
glers from going t ) the rear. At one lime the 
First and Second Brigade were hard pressed by 
the enemy, and it became necessary to send 
everything to the front that carried a musket. 
Capt. Sell was ordered to the front with the 
Provost Guard, and before they had reached 
tiere he was struck in the left leg by a solid 
shot which shattered the limb so badly as to 
render amputation necessary. From the effects 
of the amputation he died the next day, and in 
his death the Kighty-Third lost one of its best 
officers and most exemplary men. 

Early in the evening detachments had been 
sent out from the brigade to bury the dead and 
bring in the wouinled on both sides. Some idea 
of the slaughter made of the enemy ixny be 
formed from the fact that over fifty of their dead 
were counted in front of the Twentieth Maine 
alone, and judging trom the usual proportions 
of five wounded to one killed, that regiment had 
probably infiicted a loss upon the enemy of over 
three hundred men. In front of the Eighty- 
Third, along the Valley of the Shadow of Death, 
they weresirewn as thickly. And further still 
to the right, in a more open space, where the 

* The Mimes of those killed and died of wounds 
were Robeit Grittin, Co. A; Birchaid E, True, Sam- 
u^'l A. Biu-neti., ' li is, Grossetf, Wm. Mozier, Co. B; 
,T-Hmes A. Lewis, Chas Grotier, Co D; Eli Berlin, Co. 
G; Pnilip Grille, Ste^tien W. Warner, Co H; Robt. 
Thompson, Fo.ster Rockwell, Geo. W. Sialiier, Co. I, 
John Greenwald, Co. K. 



70 



Judson's History of 



ri>il>t of the Forty-Fourlh and the left of the Six- , kets of his comrade, which was not so bloody, 
teenthhad fouj^hf, I cotinted several days after- ati('. spread it upouthe bed of leaves, aid put 
wards over forty dear] bodies within a circle of tlieir knapsacks at the bead for pillows. As we 
lifiy fet-t in circn inference. They laid in every took hold of the young man to lift him to his 
concei vable position amon^ the rocks in that low j new bed, he shrieked in a^ony, "Oh men, for 
swampy ground, some crourhed nehind the; Go Is sake, do be careful. Oh my mother!" 
rocks as if about to tire, some lying upon their i That aftpeal was enough to rilt the heart of a 
faces, and soniestreached upon their b -cks, like 'stone, but we perf )rmed the office as carefully 
corpses bud out fir a fnrier<il, as if they had de i as we could, being obliged to support his man- 
termined to observe the ju-optiety of attitude gled limb without jurring it, at the same time 
even in the hour and article of death. The rains that we lifted his body from the ground. We 
had, during the interval, descended and the hot j succeeded in laying him down in an easy posi- 
sun hadbeatdown upon them, and they were tion, upon the bad of leaves, and he seemed to 
now swollen and turned black with mortifica-j feel at once that his sutlerings were relieved, 
tion, and millions of magiiots could be seen riot- We then laid his comrade, who was wounded 
ing upon their tiesh. Ah me! thought I, could ; in the breast, by his side, and covered theai 
the fathers, the mothers, and the wives of these both with aclean blanket which wefound h'iiig 
unfoitunate nrien suddenly appear and gaze up- ;uear. The wounded men seemed to feel grate- 
on the firms they had once fondled in their I'ul, and expressed their sense of gratitude for 
arms, they would curse to the bitter end the the treatment they had received ; for they h.ul 
traitors who had brought the desolations and ; not expected it from those whom they suppos- 
miseries of this war upon their once hap^oy led to be their enemies. We told them that they 
households. " jneed not feel themselves under obiigaiions 

Bv ten o'clock the delachinents had buried for anything we had done, for ihiugh we might 
most of our owu dead, and brtjught in our be foes on the field of battle, j'et it was no more 
wounded, and a greater portion of the robel j than the duty of every soldier to give assistance 
wounded. A number of the latter, however, to a fallen foe in the hour of his misfortune, 
liiid between our line of skirmishersand that of We then offered them some rations from our 
the enemy. As the enemy fired in the dark, | haversacks, such as we had, but they were in 
upon every object they saw npproHch, our men ; no condition to eat them. The sergeantsaid he 
could not render assistance teas m>iuy as they wovild ask one more kindness of us, and that 
would otherwise have done. Many had received | «vas to get them carried to a hospital, as soon as 
severe and painful wounds, and their ceaseless possible, where their wounds inij-ht be attend- 
cries for help, breaking upon the stillness ofjedto. We promised to do so, and at once star- 
the niglit, sent a thrill to the heart of many a j ted off on our mission. "Thank you, gentle- 
brave soUber of ihe Eighty-Third: for I have men !" said the young man gratefudy, as befell 
always noticed that the men of that regiment, into a fitful slumber, while we moved away, 
although they never had any compuncticn of! It was sometime before Ave could accomplish 



conscience in their treatment of an attackin 
foe, yet the moment the ;oe were prostrate and 
helpless at their feet, they would throw away 
their guns and everything else to render them 
assistance. Arrong the number brought in, I 



this mission, and I returned several times dur- 
ing the interval to administerdraughtsof water 
to them, >-.nd to assure them that they would be 
attended to before long: and I had the satisfac- 
tion ot knowing that beforean hourelapsed they 



remember a tine looking young rebel sergeant I had both been can led to a hospital, where I 



who had had the bone of his right thigh broke i 
by a niinnie bullet. Our men had, at the risk 
of their lives, ventured out and brought aim 
and another wounded rebel soldier in their 
arms, and laid them down under some trees up- 
on a rise of gr und some fifty yards from where 
I was resting. As no stretchers were left upon 
the field, they could not carry them back to the 
h<ispitals, wliich were two or three miles to the 
rear. Their wounds were torturing them, and, 
attracted by their groans, I went tow^irds the 
spot and found them lying upon their blankets 
in a pool of blood, their limbs shivering with 
the cool night air, and the young sergeant inca 
pable of moving without wrenching his broken 
bone, so as lo send a thrill of agony through his 
whole body. He was a manly young fellow, of 
finely moulded features, and well shaped limbs, 
appearently about twenty-one, and evidently, 
(descended of gentle blood. "Oh, sir," he ex- 
claimed brokenly, "I am glad you have come 
to my assistance; will you please give me a 
drink of water and help me to turn over ; I am 
lying on my broken limb, aLd cannot help my 
self." Fortunately I had a canteen of water by 
my side, and applied it to the lips of these suf 
fering men. I then went in search of help, for 
I could not lift ttiem alone. Having found a 
soldier to assist me, we returned and did the 
best we could for them. We made a nice, soft 
bed of leaves, large enough for both and then 
bathed, and oound up their wounds with our 
handkerchiefs. We then took one of the bl-.m- 



trust their wounds ware properly taken careof, 
and that they lived to repent and abandon the 
errocs of their ways. 

We left the brigade, some pages back, secure- 
\y entrenched upon the rocky foriress of Big 
Bound Top, awaiting the approach of morning, 
and another attack from the rebel host. Tde 
morning came, but the enemy came not with it. 
One trial, at passing through the Valley cf the 
Shadow of Death had satisfied their thirst for 
military glory, and they never made the at- 
tempt again. During the morning the First 
Brigade came to our relief; they took our places 
in the line, and we marched out and tiok a 
position in the rear of the left centre, still in 
sight of Little Round Top, and laid down to rest. 
We lay there during the day, in reserve, and 
under one of the heaviest artillery fires, that 
ever was heard in any battle. The rebels had 
massed both their artillery and infantry on our 
right, and centre, and were about to make a 
grand desperate and final struggle to break our 
lines. But they found our armj^ prepared at 
every point. All at once five hundred cannon 
opened on both sides, and for two houi's, with- 
out cessation, the earth shook like an earth- 
quake, and the air was filled with missiles of 
death, screaming, hissingand whirlinginevery 
direction over the field. Hundreds of the ene- 
my's ^hells which failed lo explode, flew shriek- 
ing through the skies, for a half and three quar- 
ters of a mile to the rear of our lines of battle. 
Those striking nearer would plow a huge fur- 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



71 



row in the f^rounil, and then ricochettino: and 
leapinti upward to the heijihtof a hundred rent, 
could be seen whirline; awav tor a quarter of a 
mile in the distance, before again falling to the 
earth. Hundreds burst over and around us, 
hurling their fragments in every direction. 
One shell burst so close to Gen. Barnes and his 
staff, as they were riding along the line of our 
brigade, that one officer had his face tilled with 
povVder, and the General himself received a 
wound in the leg. Strange to say. that under 
all this tire, only one man in the Eighty-Third 
was AToundt'd. During the cantionading our at- 
tention was frequently directed to the opera- 
tions of our artidery posted on Little Round 
Top. Mount Sinai in all its glory, never thun- 
dered, nor belched forth such vol urns of smoke 
aod lighting, as did that grand little citndel up 
on this memorable day. The shouts of our ar- 
tillerymen were heard at intervals, above the 
roar of battle, and, attracted by the ex titement 
of the occasion, I rode up to Little Round Top, 
and witnessed the grandest artillery duel that 
I had ever witnessed hefore. I found two bat- 
teries of rifled Parrott guns at work, and, <n 
looking a mile to the right and front, saw two 
batteries of the enemy grmning most horrit>ly 
in our direction. Our artillery surpassed that 
of the rebel^i in percision of tiring and in exe- 
cuti'>n. They had sent our shells with such ac- 
curacy that they had alreadj' blown up two or 
three of the enemy's caissons. Eveiy time our 
men blew up a caisson, they raised a shout ol 
triumph. We were last silencing their guns. 
The rebel gunners replied vigorously, but inef 
fectually. Their solid shot and shell struck 
savagely against the rocky walls of this little 
(xibralter and then bounded off harmlessly iri 
another direction. At the same time a most ter 
rible struggle between the infantry of the op- 
posing forces was going on. I could see the 
long lines of the enemy advance over the fields 
to the assault, seemingly hesitatingand waver- 
ing as they went, when suddenly a sheet of 
fiame would burst from our line, and their brok- 
en and flying columns would be lost in a cloud 
of smoke. Then fresh supporting columns 
couldagain be seen pressing forward to the work 
of death, rallying the fugitives and sweeping 
them up again into the fire, and themselves 
advancing into the very crater of the volcano. 
Then would come a hand to hand encounter; 
and gazing on it from that distance, scarcely 
able to distinguish the combatants in the thick, 
dim smoke, that enveloped them, once or twice 
my heart beat with apprehension for the result. 
But soon the sight of the fugitive assilants run 
ning to the rear assured me that all was right, 
and that the hosts of freedom were destined to 
prevail over the dark hosts of slavery and re 
bellion. Then carr.e a lull over the whole field 
of battle. The silence of the grave reigned alon J 
the whole line lor the space of two hours; but 
it was a momentous .silence, portending the 
more terrible storm that was to follow. The 
enemy, broken and driven back on the right, 
was again massing his colums for another des 
perate assault on the left and centre. The as 
saultat last came. With a line of battle extend- 
ing as far as the eye could reach, with banners 
fl.ving and with two hutidred and fifty cannon 
l;)elching their fiery meteors right over their 
heads, into the faces of our men, they ; dvan 
ced close \ip to the line of the Uniun hosts and 
were again driven ba ;k dis omtitted and shiv 
ered into fragments. Again the bull-dogs oi 
war were let loose from our line, and aga,iu the 



heavens were reit and the air filled with the 
screaming messengers of death. The batteries 
on the fortress of Little Round Top were again 
on the trail of their old enemy, and again send- 
ing iron compliments into their midst. At four 
o'cidck the firing began to slacken. Their bat- 
teries had been silenced, and the dark hosts of 
rebellion, torn into a thousand friigmeuts, sul- 
lenly lefc the tield of carnage. Their ninety 
thousand chosen veterans had failed to conquer 
the sixty thousand heroes that stood bef>re 
them. Tlius ended the memorable day of the 3d 
of July. I passed over the held a few da.YS after- 
wards and counted fifteen dead horses lying in 
a circumference of titty leet, together with in- 
numerable fragments of ariillerj' carriages 
where the bat'eries stood that had dared to take 
up the gauntlet and to fling it in the laces otthe 
cannoneers who had shaken the tield with their 
thunders from the heights of Little Round Top. 
Before closing the final act an<l scene in this 
greatest drama of the war for the Union, let us 
return to the hero of Little Round Top, who 
with the less than twelve hundred men under 
his command, had saved the left on the day of 
the 2d, and who in offering up his life has 
stamped his character with the seal oi the sub- 
^litnest heroism. On being taken to the rear, 
I Col. Vincent was carried to the farm house of 
I Mr. Win. Bushman, about two miles from 
I Round Top and four miles south east of Gettys- 
burg. Although the bone had been broken, 
the wound wasoneof those singular ones which 
inflict less pain than those whir-h often prove 
less dangerous. The bullet had passed clear 
through the left groin and lodged in the right, 
and his case was at once discovered by those 
near him to be past all surgery. On the morn- 
ing of the 3d Gen. Butterfield'came to see him, 
and to announce that be had already, by direc- 
tion of Gen. Meade, telegraphed for his apoiut- 
ment as a Brigadier General, It was Col. Vin- 
cent's desire, not yet being aware of the mortal 
nature of his wound, to leave for home at once, 
and accoringly the General gave written per- 
mission to two of his stafi" officers to proceed 
home with him without delay. But on con- 
sulting the Brigade Surgeon, who came in a few 
hours afterwards, he was told that his removal 
was entirely impracticable, and was advised to 
dismiss the idea at once from his mind. '"Jhen," 
said he. "I want you to send for my wife as 
soon as possible." His Adjutant Gen'l, Lieut. 
Clark, mounted a horse without delay, rode to 
Westminister, a distance of forty miles, and 
telegraphed home. Another officer went to 
Hanover .^nd telegraphed to the same effect. 
Butin thecoufusionand pressof business which 
un-^vailed, neither of these messages reached 
liome in time. In the u)eantime Col. Vincent 
kept sloAvly but gradually sinking away. He 
became conscious of hissiiuition, but never ut- 
tered a groan nor complaint, and said repeatedly 
that he sutt'ered no pain. The only times he 
suffered was when he was moved fromoneside 
o the other, and his broken limb was Jarred by 
the operation, although he was handled with all 
the care and delicacy that it was possible to ex- 
ercise. Even then he would suppress the out- 
bursts of agony that his pain seemed to bring 
forth as if he thought the outward manifesta- 
tion of suffering was unworthy a soldier and a 
h^^ro. He was visited from day to day bv Gen. 
Sykes, Gen. Barnes and other prominent of- 
ficers who had already learned to re»pect uis 
character as a man and his gallantry on the 
field of battle. "I presume," said he, "I have 



72 



Judson's History of 



done my last fis;titin,e,"a« several officers. stand- 
ing hy his bedside one d'ly, were speaking of 
the late batile. and congratul iting him upon 
hi-i well earned promoi^n. He seemed inelin 
ed to talk but litiie aficr the fir«t two dtys of 
his illrress. So dpad^ning. indeed, had b^^-u 
tlie blow he reci ive 1, that be had not i he strength 
to engage in conversation lor any length of 
lime. Be was constantly attended by Dr. 
Bur(;hHeid. Surgeon of the Eighty Third, by 
Lieut. Clark, atid by several oilier memlers of 
the regiment who bt^stowed upon him all the 
care and attention lhnt the opportunitit s of the 
occasion aUnrded. On the 61 h he became so 
weak as to iiesoarcely able to utter a word al)Ove 
a whisper, and on the 7th it was evident th^t 
his last moments were approaching. At that 
last moment ateiider recollection of the christian 
education he had received seemed tocomeover 
him, and while the ieeble ettort to repeat the 
Lord's Prayer was still lingering upon his lip-* 
the soul of this young hero passed away to an- 
other world. The next day Lieut. Clark pro- 
ceeded with bis remains to his -liome in Erie, 
where, attended by a large concourse of citizens, 
they Avere '>uried with all the honors of war. 

Such was the glorious death of Brigadier 
General Strong Vincent. Hh was born at Wat 
eiford on the 17tb of June, 1837, and was conse- 
quently a few days past tlie age of twentj'-six 
at the time of his death. Of his charcter as a 
man, and a soldier, it is unnecessary for me to 
speak in anj'' terms of eulogy or admiration, 
for his fame is more widely known already 
than this book will ever be, and his name will 
be remembered when these pages shall have 
passed into oblivion. I have no practice in the 
language of enconium, and I am not aware 
that my humor ever ran in that direction. But 
there have lived and died men of such a stamp 
as must extort praise from even the most criti- 
cal. When the regiment first went out, his 
style, as it was called, was not much admired 
by the men. But when they came to learn that 
his bearing was the result not of supercilious- 
ness, but «;t a noble dignity of character, they 
fell into an admiration of him, and this admira- 
tion grew and expanded day by day. And 
when they came to witness his skill in hand- 



ling the legiment, and the brigade, on tho fi«^ld 
of hatrle, and how he foutilit siilw by side, and 
shared all the dangers equally with thetn, Iho 
seal of his superiority became stimptd upon 
tiieir hearts. He had none of ihat tender re- 
gard fiir the salHiy of his own person wht-n the 
occasion called for his services at the front, 
which I have seen some general ofBc^-rs mani- 
fesi; none of that cunnitiir .strategy that would 
sneak (or shelter behind a rock, a quaiter of a 
mile to toe rear, under the plea that the life of 
a commanding officer was of more importance 
than the lives o: his men; notie of that love of 
life, t.iat would ask oilierst* go where he dared 
not go himself. Yet his bravery had nothing 
of rashness in its composition. If he was al- 
ways first and fbrem ist on the field of battle 
it was because his sense of duty took him there, 
and if he became animated in ;,he excitement 
of the fray, it was the result of a glorious en- 
thusiasm which rose higher and higher as the 
joy of battle swelled in Ids breast and inspired 
him to dare and to do all that might become a 
man. In camp and in private life, his manners 
w( re those of a gentleman. He associated with 
the highest officers in the army, and I always 
noticed on such occasions (hat when in his 
company they behavedasifthey felt themselves 
in the presence of a Man. But perhap.-; the 
greatest thing that can be said in his favor is 
that amidst all the unfavorable influences in 
the life of a soldier he never forgot the religious 
training he had received in his early years. I 
have frequently known him, after coming in 
from business at the front, at bed-time, to put 
out the light and kneel by his little cot and 
spend a few moments in silent prayer before 
retiring to rest. But I have done with what 
some may deem the language of adulation. 
Personal! j^ I am not a professed admirer of any 
man, living or dead ; but I cannot Jet this op- 
portunity pass without giving the result of my 
observations on the character of one with whom 
I have been associated in arms. To sum up 
the character of Gen. Strong Vincent in three 
words, I can only say that he was a gallant 
soldier, a fine scholar and a christain gentle- 
man, and when you say this you have said all 
that can be said of any man. ' 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



73 



CHAPTER XV. 



Parsrdt of the enemy. The march to Williamsport. Skirmish at Jones' Gross Roads. He-cros- 
sing the Potomac. March doivn Loudon Valley. 



I have several times feared, during the course 
of these pages, that, in my account of the cam- 
paigns of the Eighty-Third, I was too circum- 
stantial in the details, — making too Irequent 
mention of every halt, bivouac and other little 
incidents which are of every day's occurrence, 
in the events of a campaign. But I beg leave 
to say in reply, that the greater part of a sol- 
dier's life is spent in marching and counter- 
marching, or in lying still and performing the 
ordinary routine of camp duties. Armies fre- 
quently march hundreds of miles in a single 
campaign and tight only one battle during it. 
We marched from the Rappahannock to (Get- 
tysburg, and, as the event proved, from Gettys- 
burg back to the flappahonnock, and fought 
only once during the whole march. If I were 
writing a history of the war, or a history 
of the army of the Potomac, I should ne- 
cessarily be compelled to be less careful 
of details, and should have to plunge at once 
in tnedias res, as the poets say, in order to 
get through with the narrative before the close 
of the present century. But I am writing the 
history of a single regiment; a history, too, 
which will be read only by the surviving mem- 
bers of that regiment, or by their immediate 
Iriends; and I imagine that as each survivor 
reads herein the day and date of a single march 
it will recall to his mind a thousand incidents 
connected with that march, — how he toiled up 
to the knees through the mud, or tell wearied 
by the wayside beneath the scorching rays of 
an almost tropical sun, — how he waded rivers 
waist deep and then, with wet clothes and shiv- 
ering limbs laid down to sleep upon the cold 
ground, — how many midnight marches he per- 
formed, leg-weary, and bowed down beneath 
tho weight of his knapsack and arras, — and, 
withal, what jokes, what jibes, what seasons of 
merriment he indulged in, and what adven- 
tures he encountered on the way. It is only in 
the narrative of this part of a soldier's life, that 
the people at home are brought to realize how 
much he suffers and endures in the duties of 
his arduous profession; only by appreciating 
them that they are brought to reflect under 
what a debt of gratitude they lie to the men 
who have sacrificed every comfort for the main- 
tenance of the government and its laws. 

For these reasons, then, 1 shall give only a 
sort of diary of the events of our march from 
Gettysburgh to the Rappahannock ; for al- 
though there was some skirmishing on the 
way, and at one time there were strong indica- 
tions of a heavy engagement, those operations 
did not rise to the dignity of serious history. 
Yet the events of the march constitute a sort of 
connecting link in the chain of our history and 
we shall accordingly proceed to detail them. 



Col. Rice, of the Forty-Fourth, was now as 
we have already stated, in command of the 
brigade. They remained in the position where 
we left them until the 4th when they went to 
the front and relieved Gen. Bartlett's brigade 
of the Second Corps. Both armies were quiet 
during the day and nothing but occasional 
picket firing was heard. Lee, like a beaten but 
wily antagonist, with fists clenched and arms 
akimbo, and his eye upon Gen. Meade, was 
watching his chance to dodge out of the ring 
without incurring the risk of a parting blow. 
Night came upon both armies still closely 
watching each other, but both too much ex- 
hausted, after a conflict of three days, to renew 
the struggle. Under cover of darkness — the 
time which all armies commence their retreat- 
Lee slipped away and by morning was far ad- 
vanced on the road towards Hagerstown and 
the Potomac. 

July 5th. — This morning it was discovered 
that the enemy had left our front. We re- 
mained in the same position till five in the 
afternoon when we commenced moving in the 
direction of Emmettsburgh. The night was 
dark and gloomy and the roads were very 
muddy. It always rains after a great battle, 
especially when there has been heavy canncm- 
ading. ISTo season of the year brings an excep- 
tion to this rule unless it happens during those 
long periods of drouth when even the prayers 
of the righteous fail to call down a single drop 
of moisture from the clouds. The troops 
marched on wearily, feeling their way at every 
step, till near midnight when they crossed the 
Monacacy not far from Emmettsburgh, and 
went into bivouack. Remained there till the 
7th. 

7th.— Started at six o'clock in the morning 
and crossed a spur of the South Monntain, over 
a by-road, and arrived at Middletown at four 
in the afternoon. 

9th.— Crossed South Mountain at Crampton's 
Gap and halted about two miles from Boones- 
boro at noon. 

10th. — This morning the appointment of Col. 
Vincent, as Brigadier General, by the Presi- 
dent, was received at the headquarters of the 
Third Brigade. The whole brigade was imme- 
diately ordered out on dress parade by Col. 
Rice, and the appointment read to the troops. 
As it was announced to each regiment in turn, 
the men rent the air with repeated cheers for 
Brigadier General Strong Vincent. The ap- 
pointment was placed in the hands of Captain 
Graham to carry back to Gettysburgh and re- 
ceive the signature of the General. On arriv- 
ing at Frederick, however, the captain was in- 
formed of his death by Dr. Burchfield, where- 
upon he returned to the regimaot. 



74 



Judson's History of 



We left Boouesboro to the right and crossed 
Antietam Creek, near Jones' cross-roads, at 
noon. As fast as the corps crossed, the troops 
and batteries were placed in position, as the 
enemy were found to be but a short distance in 
our front. Their rear guard had been driven 
over the same road during that day by our cav- 
alry. I recollect hearing a farmer speaking of 
the skirmish a few days afterwards. The rebels 
occupied one hill and our cavalry another, and 
his house stood in a small valley betAveen the 
two opposing forces. He remarked that the 
conflict was for a while so doubtful that he was 
at a loss to know whether he was in the United 
States or in Dixie, and for a while felt that he 
was in neither one nor the other. After our 
troops were put in position details were made 
of the half of each regiment of our brigade and 
sent out to the front as skirmishers. Captain 
McCoy, then acting as field officer, was placed 
in command of the right wing of the Eighty- 
Third which was sent out on this occasion. On 
reaching the ground, detachments from each 
wing were formed into a skirmish line and the 
rest were held in reserve. After the skirmish- 
ers had been thrown well to the front, Captain 
McCoy was placed by Colonel Rice in com- 
mand of the whole skirmish line. The 
ground before them was high, open and rolling, 
and afforded many opportunities to the rebels 
for taking shelter. After advancing three- 
fourths of a mile they came to a belt of woods 
and pushed rapidly through it to the open 
country beyond and there halted. Capt McCoy 
then went back and reported to Col. Rice the 
nature of the ground and returned, accompan- 
ied by the Colonel, to the line of skirmishers. 
They then moved by the right flank for half a 
mile. Here Col. Rice notified the Captain that 
the enemy had some cavalry and a section of 
artillery in a point of woods to our right, and 
beyond Jones' Cross Roads. In order to ap- 
proach the woods by the front, Capt. McCoy 
made a right half wheel of the entire skirmish 
line and advanced briskly towards the enemy. 
But when he had gone about a third of the way, 
the enemy, who were watching the movement, 
took away their pieces and made off in the di- 
rection of Williamsport, followed closely by 
their cavalry. McCoy, on observing this, at 
once notified our men, who pursued rapidly, in 
the hope of capturing the artillery, until they 
had got within a hundred yards of their posi- 
tion. Here an order was received from Gen. 
Sykes, not to advance another foot without or- 
ders. Scarcely had the line halted when their 
left was attacked by a heavy line of rebel skir- 
mishers who were lying in ambush and had 
not been observed. After a few moments of 
rapid firing, the two companies on the left gave 
way and fell back about forty rods to a stone 
■wall. McCoy then sent back an orderly to Col. 
Chamberlain, who commanded the reserves, 
for another company, and a company from the 
Twentieth Maine, was at once sent to his sup- 
port. As soon as they came up they were de- 
ployed as skirmishers, and the officer in com- 
mand of them was directed to go and take the 
Kosition from which the others had fallen back. 
IcCoy told him he would be tired upon before 
he got there, but that he must take the position 
and would be supported promptly. At the 
same time the Captain sent an order to the com- 
mandants of the companies, which had fallen 
back, to rally to the support of the advancing 
company the moment it should become engag- 
ed. This order was executed with promptness 



and the old position was soon regained and 
held. 

Soon after the position had been retaken, an 
officer came from the left of the line and in- 
formed Capt. McCoy that a number of the 
enemy's wagons could be seen from where 
they lay and asked permission to sally out and 
capture them. But as the order from General 
Sykes to advance no further was imperative 
the request could not be complied with. Soon 
after some of our cavalry skirmishers, on the 
right, made an advance which was mistaken 
by Lieut. Cory, of Co. G, as an intended move- 
rnent of our line; and giving the command to 
his company to forward, off they dashed on a 
double-quick. After they had gone some sixty 
rods, the company was recalled by Captain 
Stowe who observed that this movement was 
a violation of orders. The only result of this 
dash was the capture of one prisoner. Our 
skirmishers remained in that position till near 
sundown, when they were ordered to fall back 
to a turnpike leading to Jones' Cross Roads 
and to establish a picket line for the night. In 
this skirmish the whole brigade lost but two 
men killed and some half a dozen wounded. 

About dark the left wings of the Eighty- 
Third, Forty-Fourth, and Twentieth went out 
on picket and lay during the nignt in the forks 
of Jones' Cross Roads, acting as reserves to a 
line of cavalry picket in front. 

11th. — At daylight the cavalry pickets were 
attacked by a strong skirmish line and driven 
back, the rebels advancing as the cavalry re- 
tired. Our men immediately got under arms, 
formed line of battle, and advanced to meet 
them. We soon gained a ravine, in front of 
an open field, over which the rebels were com- 
ing and, as soon as they came in sight of each 
other, each party commenced firing. In less 
than fifteen minutes our men drove them back 
across the field and compelled them to take 
cover in a small belt of woods. From this 
shelter they kept up a brisk firing upon us for 
some time. As it was impracticable for our 
men to advance across the field in face of their 
fire, a section of artillery' was brought up 
which opened and in a few minutes succeeded 
in shelling them out of the woods. 

13th. To-day both armies were in position 
and lay confronting each other. A battle was 
momentarily expected. The enemy's position 
was about four miles from Williamsport on the 
Potomac. He kept up a strong skirmish line» 
and during the whole time was busily engaged 
in building bridges across the river and send- 
ing oyer his wounded and wagon trains. He 
was getting ready to dodge out again under 
cover of darkness. The woods were very heavy 
here and the position well suited for making an 
obstinate resistance. He was busy also in 
throwing up breastworks on all the available 
approaches to his lines. Heavy rains had swol- 
len the river, and at one time, as it appeared, 
the rebels had felt themselves in a precarious 
situation, The army of Gen. Meade confronted 
them on one side, Gen. Couch was reported to 
be coming down upon their left, and the rise 
in the river threatened to cut off their retreat in 
that direction. As a rebel prisoner said, 1 hey 
had the Yankees on three sides of them and the 
Almighty on the fourth, and between the two 
they had begun to think that the last days of 
the Confederacy had come. 

It was on this day that an election was held for 
field officers to fill the vacancy occasioned by 
the death of Col. Vincent. The ofiice of Lieut. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



75 



Colonel had already been vacant since the res- 
ignation of Lieut. Colonel Campbell. Capt. 
Woodward was unanimously chosen Colonel, 
and Captain McCoy Lieut. Colonel of the 
regiment, and their names were forwarded 
to the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania to be 
commissioned accordingly. 

14th. — This morning it was found that the 
enemy had left our front and it was known at 
once that he had eflected his escape across the 
river during the night. The army was soon 
put in motion, each corps taking different 
routes in the line of march down the river. 
As the enemy was known to be beyond reach, 
the whole army did not follow in pursuit. 
The Fifth Corps followed up to Williamsport 
and encamped for the night. Williamsport is 
a miserable, dingy-looking old town, like 
most of the towns along the Potomac, on 
either side. We found a great many of the 
rebel wounded there, whom Lee had found it 
impossible to carry along with him ; and they, 
together with about five hundred other prison- 
ers, fell into our hands. The wounded had 
been left in charge of several of their own sur- 
geons. On conversing with these gentlemen, I 
found them laboring under the strange hallu- 
cination that they ijad beaten us at Gettys- 
burgh. They asserted strenuously that they 
had lost but seven thousand men in that battle, 
while they had inflicted a loss upon us of over 
twenty thousand and taken by far the greatest 
number of prisoners. They ventured to give, 
however, no reasons for their retreat. They 
wei'e very frank in the expression of their sen- 
timents, and declared that rather than live 
under the government of the United States 
they would live under a King. 

15th. — Up at two o'clock in the morning, 
cooking and eating breakfast so as to be ready 
to naarch at four. The roads, for a good deal 
of the way, proved to be very muddy, and, 
having been much cut by the artillery and 
wagon trains of the retreating rebels, made the 
marching slow and toilsome. The sun came 
out hot during the day and dried up the roads 
fast, and, when we got out into the open coun- 
try we found them quite dry and passable. Our 
route laid along the Blue Ridge, several spurs 
of which we crossed, keeping to the right of 



Frederick and in the direction of the Potomac. 
We arrived near Burkettsville at five in the 
afternoon after a march of over twenty-five 
miles and encamped in the woods at the base of 
the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

16th. — Reveille at two o'clock this morning. 
Left at four and arrived near Berlin, on the Po- 
tomac, at twelve. Encamped in a wheat-field 
filled with standing shocks, into which the men 
very incontinently pitched and appropriated to 
themselves large "supplies of bedding. 

17th.— At three in the afternoon we broke 
camp, passed through Berlin and again crossed 
the Potomac. Continued the march till after 
dark and encamped at Lovettsville, about eight 
miles south of the river. 

18th. Reveille again at two in the morning 
and off by four. To-day we made a light march 
of only seven miles on the road to Purcellville 
and went into bivouac at noon. The valley 
through which we were now marching was 
very pleasant and lies between the Blue Ridge 
and Katoctin ranges. Between us and the Blue 
Ridge there is another little range called Short 
Mountain, extending some miles down the val- 
ley. It all goes under the name of Loudon 
Valley, and is one of the most fertile and pic- 
turesque portions of Virginia. 

19th, Broke camp at eight, and marched four 
miles very leisurely to Purcellville. The roads 
in good condition, the weather and the scene- 
ry magnificent. 

20th. Reveille at two and off" at four again. 
Marched about fifteen miles to Goose Creek, 
and encamped within a mile of our old battle 
ground of Middleburgh. Remained here till 
the 22d. While here Capt. Stowe, Lieut, Gif- 
ford and another officer, with six chosen non- 
cominissioned officers, were detailed to go 
North, take charge of and conduct drafted men 
to the regiment. They starteil out the same 
day, and in accordance with orders, reported at 
Pittsburgh, where they remained till the mid- 
dle of August. The party were then ordered 
to Philadelphia, where they remained till the 
middle of October. During that time they 
brought over four hundred recruits to the reg- 
iment. Of the character of these recruits I 
shall have occasion to speak hereafter. 



76 



Judson'a History of 



CHAPTER XVI. 



The affair at Manassas Gap. March to Beverly Ford. To Otilpepper. The Retreat to Center^ 
ville. Again on the advance. Auburn. Three Mile Station. The Battle of Rappaha/nnock 
Station. 



22d, — Broke camp in the afternoon and went 
to Rectortown, near Manassas Gap. 

23d. — Daring tliis day we lay close in rear of 
the Third Corps, who were engaged in driving 
back the enemy through the grfp, during which 
our men were exposed to the tire of the enemy's 
artillery. About sundown our division was 
ordered to relieve the Third Corps and, on tak- 
ing our position in their front, they were with- 
drawn to the rear. Four companies from the 
Eighty- Third and two from the Forty-Fourth 
were sent out on picket and remained all night. 

24th. — Shortly after sunrise the whole division 
was drawn up in line of battle and ordered to 
advance through a piece of woods which had 
been occupied by the enemy's pickets the day 
before. Afterpassing through it, we came to the 
foot of a high, steep mountain, known as Wap- 
ping Heights, and thickly covered with woods 
and underbrush. This proved to be one of the 
most difficult places over which any body of 
troops ever attempted to march in line of battle. 
There were three hills, one rising above the 
other, and each one higher and steeper than the 
one before it. In ascending, the men were fre- 
quently halted, and they took advantage -of 
the occasion to feast upon the blackberries 
which they found there in abundance. 

On reaching the brow of the last hill, they 
discovered no enemy in their front, and it was 
ascertained that they had left during the night. 
Before us lay the rich valley of the Shenan- 
doah, in the midst of which stood Front Royal 
in the distance. After remaining a while for 
rest, we about-faced and marched down the 
hill and encamped that night two miles to the 
rear. Having become short of rations and be- 
ing a good ways from our supplies, the men 
became so hungry that they were obliged to go 
out foraging. Provisions in that part of tue 
country were very scarce, and the men were 
obliged to travel live or six miles before they 
succeeded in finding any. They finally came 
across some geese and young pigs which they 
at once appropriated and brought back to camp. 
The people throughout the neighborhood re- 
ported provisions to be alarmingly scarce. 

25th — Left early in the morning and moved 
In the direction of Warrenton. Bivouacked at 
four P. M. 

26th — Broke camp early and continued the 
march. Went into camp about three miles 
from Warrenton. 

27th — Passed through Warrenton and en- 
camped three miles beyond it.' Remained 
there till the 4th of August. 

Aug. 4th. — Broke in the evening and started 
for Beverley Ford, where we arrived on the 



morning of the 7th. Remained there guarding 
the Ford until September 16. Here we went into 
regular camp, drilling and performing other 
camp duties. Here the men received their sup- 
plies of clothing. The enemy gave us no an- 
noyance, and only now and then a few mount- 
ed rebel videttes were to be seen taking obser- 
vations from the heights on the opposite side of 
the river. 

18th. — On the evening of this day Capt. Stowe 
and Lieut. Gilford arrived with their first in- 
stalment of drafted men, or substitutes, from 
Philadelphia, about one hundred and twenty- 
five in number. They had started with one 
hundred and fifty, but, having been compelled 
to make a part of the march from Bealton Sta- 
tion after night, about twenty-five of them 
took advantage of the darkness to ettect their 
escape. Afterwards, while the army was at 
Culpepper, they brought two other squads, 
making the whole number of recruits over four 
hundred. Some thirty-five, in all, who are not 
included in this number, deserted before reach- 
ing camp. They were all, with but one or two 
exceptions, substitutes for men who had been 
drafted in the districts comprising Philadel- 
phia, Lancaster, Reading, Frankford, West- 
chester and Norristown and were mostly pro- 
cured in the market at Philadelphia. There 
were men among them from almost every 
nation of Europe. They were shipped at Phila- 
delphia by way of the Deleware and Chesa- 
peake Canal and the Chesapeake Bay to Alex- 
andria and thence by railroad to the regiment. 
Of these there was quite a number of good 
men, men who had some respect for their 
oaths, who have since done faithful service, 
who have sealed their devotion with their blood, 
and to the last, were still to be found fighting 
side by side with the veterans of the Eighty- 
Third. But the majority of them were the 
grandest scoundrels that ever went unhung. 
These were the cream and flower, the very 
head and front of the New York rioters, gamb- 
lers, thieves, pickpockets and blacklegs, many 
of whom, it was said, had fled to escape pun- 
ishment for the crimes of arson, I'obbery and 
homicide. They made a business of going 
from one State to another, ottering themselves 
as substitutes, changing their names every 
time they did so, receiving their three hundred 
dollars or more, and deserting again the very 
first opportunity. A number were deserters 
from the rebel army, who made their way 
North, took the oath of allegiance, then enlisted 
as substitutes into our army, and again desert- 
ed ; and I might here add that, had it not been 
for fear of their recapture and summary pun- 



Eiglity-Third Regiment, P. V. 



77 



ishment by the rebels, they would have made 
the most reliable class of the two. These 
bounty-jumpers were to be found everywhere 
throughout the Atlantic cities, wherever the 
substitute business was thriving. On board of 
the boats that took them to Alexandria, they 
fought, gambled, and stole from each other. 
Some of them stole several hundred dollars at a 
timeand, in justice to the plundered parties, the 
otiicers in charge had to tie their arms behind 
them and almost swing them from the yard arms 
for hours before they would disgorge the stolen 
money. They fought, gambled and stole alter 
they got to the regiment. The company streets 
of the once peaceful Eighty-Third became up- 
roarious at times with their midnight broils and 
battles. They weie always spoiling for a tight 
except when in the presence of the enemy. One 
would have supposed that when men would 
wake up at midnight and fall to pummelling 
each other in bed, as they often did, they would 
have become transported at the prospect of a 
battle; but it was at such times that they 
skulked and seized the opportunity to desert. 
They would get each other drunk and pick 
each other's pockets while asleep. They would 
decoy each other out of camp after dark, on 
pretence of going out to take something good to 
driuk, and then knock their deluded victims 
down and rob them of their money. In short, 
these men would have disgraced the regiment 
beyond all recovery had they remained three 
months in it ; but thanks to a kind Providence, 
or to some other invisible power of redemp- 
tion, they kept deserting, a dozen at a time, 
until they were nearly all gone. In a few 
weeks the morals of the Eighty-Third began to 
recover from the shock and to return to its form- 
er normal and healthy condition. I have often 
thought, since their exodus, that the great 
truths of human nature fail to make an impres- 
sion until they have forced themselves upon 
our conviction, by a comparison of the good 
with the evil ; and our experience with these 
scoundrels nrade it an axiom with us, that none 
but men of the best habits and best principles 
make the best soldiers, and that ruffians, so 
far from being entitled to the reputation of men 
of courage, are, in reality, the greatest cowards, 
and ai'e the most unreliable when their cour- 
age is the most needed. 

On the 19th Col. Rice received the appoint- 
ment of Brigadier General, and the command 
of the Third Brigade then devolved upon Col. 
Chamberlain, of the Twentieth Maine. Gen. 
Rice was soon afterwards assiijned to the com- 
mand oi a brigade in the First Corps, and was 
mortally wounded in one of the battles in 
Spotsylvania. No person ever had reason to 
doubt Gen. Rice's bravery, and it is related of 
him that, when about to expire, he requested 
his attendants to turn him upon his side and 
let hiwi die with his face towards the enemy. 

Sept. 16th.— Started for Culpepper. The cav- 
alry drove the enemy in front of us as vie 
went. Arrived there in the afternoon. The 
whole army advanced at the same time. 

17th. — Marched two miles beyond Culpep- 
per, and went into camp. Remained there till 
the 10th of October. 

Oct. 10th. — About this time commenced Lee's 
flank movement, compelling our army to fall 
back across the Rappahannock, in order to 
preserve our line of communications and to 
keep between the enemy and Washington. On 
this day the Fifth Corps went on a reconuois- 



sance to Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan, and, 
finding no enemy, returned to their camp. 

11th. — Commenced falling back early in the 
morning, towards the Rappahannock. The 
enemy's cavalry having followed us, we halted 
at Brandy Station, formed line of battle and 
remained a couple of hours. Finding that no- 
thing but cavalry was pursuing, probably for 
the purpose of reconnoitering, we again started 
for the Rappahannock, re-crossed it and en- 
camped that night at Beverly Ford, 

12th. — To-day we moved down the river, re- 
tracing our route of the day before, and again 
crossed to the south side of the Rappahannock. 
There we formed and advanced in line of battle, 
driving the enemy from a strong position on a 
hill near Brandy Station. The First, Second 
and Third Corps moved at the same time. The 
Second, Third and Fifth charged up the hill 
with a yell, carried the heights and bivouacked 
for the night upon the spot. This movement 
was sui^posed at the time to be intended for a 
feint. 

13th.— By to-day it was pretty well ascer- 
tained that Lee was making rapid marches 
around our right and that no time was to be 
lost. Immediately commenced a rapid march 
for Centreville, again re-crossing the Rappa- 
hannock. Centroville was the key to Wash- 
ington from that direction, and it was a race 
betwixt the two armies which should get there 
first. After a heavy march of twenty-five 
miles, a part of which was made alter night, we 
encamped at Catlett's Station. 

14th.— Up early and off for Centreville. After 
crossing Broad Run we halted an hour for cof- 
fee. As soon as the fires were built and prepa- 
rations made for cooking our hasty meal, the 
rebels, who were close at hand, commenced 
shelling us. Our corps was on the left of the 
railroad, and the Second Corps, then under 
command of Gen. Warren, was on the right. 
The rear of our corps had passed the point 
where Hill's corps was coming in, in expecta- 
tion of cutting us oti", and as they came thev 
ran against the Second Corps. A fight coni- 
menced at once and Warren drove them back. 
We had just got our coffee made when an order 
came to put out the fires, and immediately af- 
terwards another order came to march. Why 
we should be marched ott' in this manner, at 
the very moment that the Second Corps was 
engaged with the enemy and needed help, can 
only be accounted for on the supposition that 
our corps commander (Gen. Sykes) had re- 
ceived previous orders to go to Centreville and 
had yet received none to reinforce Gen. Warren. 
As we were moving, the enemy again com- 
menced shelling us. On reaching Manassas 
we formed line of battle and remained in that 
position till an hour before sundown. In the 
meantime the fighting was still going on be- 
tween Warren's and Hill's corps. All at once 
we were ordered to double-quick back to the 
support of Gen. Warren. Wo double-quicked 
about two miles, during which a gi-eat many 
fell out from fatigue and most of the substi- 
tutes took good care never to fall in again. Be- 
fore reaching the scene of action Warren had 
whipped Hill and our help was not needed. 

15th. — Halted here a few hours and then 
pushed on to Fairfax Court House, about eight 
miles distant, and went into camp. Broke 
camp that night and marched back to Centre- 
ville. Arrived there at midnight, the mud 
knee deep and the rain pouz-ing down. 



78 



Judson's History of 



16th. — Marched back to Fairfax, and arrived 
there at noon. Went into camp, expecting to 
remain. 

19th. — Marched back to Centreville. 

20th. — Marched back to Fairfax again, laid 
out a regular camp, and staid till the after- 
noon ; then pulled up and went six miles to- 
wards Vienna and halted for the night. 

21st. — Marched back througn Centreville and 
encamped on the Bull Run battle field, over 
which the regiment had fought the year before. 
While here the men went over the ground and 
found the bones of many of their fallen com- 
rades scattered around. They had been very 
slightly covered, and the heads and feet of 
some of the buried men were to be seen stick- 
ing out of the ground. They found many of 
the clothes of the Eighty-Third and Forty- 
Fourth with the names of the owners upon 
them. 

The enemy were now falling back. From 
Bull Run we marched to New Baltimore, and 
thence to Auburn, where we arrived on the 
25th. Remained here a few days'doing picket 
duty, and then moved to Three Mile Station, 
on the Manassas Gap Railroad. 

All these marches and countermarches of our 
army, which I have been exact in detailing, 
were caused by the movement of the enemy. 
Having compelled the withdrawal of General 
Meade from the Rapidan and the Rappahan- 
nock, by his flank movement, Lee proceeded 
to tear up and destroy the Orange and Alexan- 
dria railroad so as to render the subsistance of 
the army impossible in that quarter until the 
railroad could again be put in running order. 
To accomplish this would require several 
weeks, and in the meantime it enabled Lee to 
send ott" Longstreet's corps for operations in 
Tennessee, and to fall back behind the Rapi- 
dan, fortify himself and go into winter quar- 
ters. About tifteen miles of the road were des- 
troyed ; the ties were burned up and the rails 
either twisted or carried olf. After this Lee 
fell back with the main body of his army into 
his old quarters across the Rapidan. Advance 
guards were left at Rappahannock Station and 
at Kelly's Ford. The lorce at Rappahannock 
consisted of the two brigades of Generals Hoke 
and Hayes. As the enemy fell back we again 
took possession of the road and commenced re- 
building it. 

Nov. 7th. — This morning early we broke 
camp and moved towards the Rappahannock. 
The third corps, under Gen. French, and the 
.sixth corps, Gen. Sedgwick, marched to Bev- 
erly Ferd, intending to co-operate with the 
fifth corps in carrying the heights at Rappahan- 
nock Station. It was a clear, cool morning and 
the atmosphere was bracing. We arrived about 
noon at a body of woods below Bealton and 
two miles from the river, and there halted in 
order to make dispositions for the attack. Be- 
fore us was a large plain with a belt of woods 
running along the railroad and terminating in 
a point about a mile from the rebel position. 
This belt of woods partly concealed the move- 
ments of our corps from the enemy. On the 
left was another heavier body of woods, through 
which that portion of Ihe brigade, which was 
not detailed for the line of skirmishers, was to 
advance as supports. The sixth corps was to 
come down the Beverly Ford road and attack 
them on the left fiank while we were to press 
them in the front. 

Several hours were spent in reconnoitering 
and getting into position. The enemy had a 



strong skirmish line lying about three-fourths 
of a mile ahead. To the skirmishers of the 
Third Brigade, including a hundred and ten 
men from the Eighty-Third, in connection 
with the skirmishers of the Second Division, 
was assigned the duty ot commencing the at- 
tack. The whole skirmish line was command- 
ed by Gen. Garrard of the Second Division and 
the skirmishers of the Third Brigade were 
commanded by Capt. Woodward of the Eighty- 
Third, 

At three o'clock in the afternoon, everything 
being in readiness for the advance, we formed 
a strong skirmish line extending from one belt 
of woods to the other, and sallied out in quest of 
the enemy whom we had scarcely yet seen. On 
we went with the capes of our overcoats flap- 
ping gaily in the breeze. We had not advanced 
over half a mile before we discovered the heads 
of "our temporarily estranged brethren of the 
South " (as Gen. Butterfleld used to call them) 
rising up, one by one, in our front; and as soon 
as we came within musket range they com- 
menced firing and falling back. A strong 
wind blew from the south and the rebels had 
the advantage of us in the firing. Our whole 
line advanced steadily, however, and continued 
to drive the enemy before us for about half a 
mile when, having reached the Kelly's Ford 
road, we were ordered to halt and hold the pos- 
ition while the Sixth Corps advanced upon 
them from the right. 

The rebels, in the meantime, had opened on 
us from their three forts, two of which were oa 
the heights on this side of the river and one on 
the other. The First, Second and Third Brig- 
ades of our division had followed us slowly 
and suffered seme in killed and wounded 
fi"om their firing. By this time our men had 
got several batteries 'in position, on elevated 
grounds on both sides of the railroad, and were 
replying briskly. Soon we saw the long col- 
umns of the Sixth Corps, advancing in line of 
battle right up towai'ds the forts. These forts 
were surrounded by long rifle pits and were 
held, as I have before stated, by the two brig- 
ades of Gens. Hoke and Hayes, The moment 
they came in range, the rebels opened a heavy 
tire with both artillery and musketry. But the 
lines of the Sixth Corps continued to press for- 
ward. The right of the skirmish line of the 
Third Brigade rested on the railroad embank- 
ment which ran close by the hill where the re- 
bels were posted, and from behind it they kept 
up a brisk tire on the rebel gunners and on the 
sharp shooters in the rifle pits. 

As soon as the attacking party of the Sixth 
Corps — among whom were the Sixth Maine 
and Fifth Wisconsin — neared the enemy's line, 
some of our skirmishers dashed forward over 
the embankment and up the hill, determined, 
if there was to be a free fight, to have a band 
in it. They had not long to wait. The men 
of the Sixth walked right up and over the rifle 
pits as easily as one wave of the sea rolls over 
another. Driving the rebels before them, down 
the banks and over the river, they mounted 
the parapets of the forts and captured the gun- 
ners and their artillery at the point of the 
bayonet. At the moment they entered on one 
side, our skirmishers entered on the other, 
captured a lot of prisoners and brought theni 
back to the regiment. This daring feat they 
accomplished without the loss of a man. 

As soon as the Sixth Corps had got possession 
of the rifle pits, the enemy commenced making 
their escape over the river which they crossed 



Eighty-Tliird Regiment, P. V. 



79 



on a pontoon bridge. Discovering this, our 
men posted tliemselves and poured in such a 
fire upon the bridge as to cut off that avenue of 
escape almost entirely. A few attempted to 
run the gauntlet but were killed or wounded 
in the act. The generals commanding them 
escaped, but the greater portion of their two 
brigades were made prisoners of war. 

While this fight was going on, Gen. French 
crossed at Kelly's Ford, meeting with some 
opposition, and drove the.'rebels from their po- 
sition. They had built a large number of com- 
fortable log cabins, intending to remain there 
during the winter. French's movement flank- 
ed their position at Rappahannock station, and 
they would have been compelled to abandon it 
even if they had not been driven out by the 
combined movement of the Fifth and Sixth 
Corps. 

That night we encamped on the field close by 
the railroad, after having established a picket 
line along the river banks. No fires could be 
had, the weather was cold, and some of the 
wounded suffered from exposure and want of 
attention. One wounded rebel soldier lay a 
few rods from our bivouack, by the side of a 
miserable tire which our men endeavored to 
keep alive with a few fagots ; and his cries, to- 
gether with the uncomfortably cold ground, 
kept us awake all night. The wounded on 
both sides, however, were all cared for by the 
next morning. 

8th — This morning we took up line of march 



for Kelly's Ford where we crossed and then 
moved on about three miles towards Brandy 
Station and halted for the night. During the 
day heavy firing was heard in the direction of 
Stevensburg, towards the Rapidan. Our caval- 
ry were driving the enemy before them and we 
had followed up as supports in case Lee should 
bring his army over to the assistance of his 
cavalry. Our support was not needed however, 
and we went no turther. 

11th — Towards night we recrossed the Rappa- 
hannock at Kelly's Ford, and bevouacked 
near the river. Snowed that night. We did 
not get into camp till after dark. Wood was 
hard to find and the bivouack was cold and 
disagreeable. 

12th — To-day we moved two miles back from 
the river into a piece of woods and laid out a 
camp, having been informed that we were to 
remain there ten days. The railroad had not 
yet been completed to Rappahannoch Station 
and we could not make a winter campaign 
until it was. We did nothing but picket duty 
while here. In the absence of Gen. Griffin, 
Gen. Bartlett was temporarily placed in com- 
mand of the division. About the 20th, Col. 
Hayes, of the Eighteenth Mass., took command 
of the Third Brigade, in the absence of Col. 
Chamberlain, and remained in command until 
the next spring. For several weeks previous 
the division had been under Col. Sweitzer of 
the Sixty-Second Penna., who had long com- 
manded the Second Brigade. 



80 



Judson's History/ of 



CHAPTER XVII. 



The Mine Hun Campaign. 



As the part the Eighty- Third took in the 
Mine Run campaign was but a continuation of 
that series of marches and small skirmishes 
which I have given in the two preceding chap- 
ters, I shall beg leave to continue the narrative 
in the same manner. On the 22d of November 
■we received orders to break camp and hold 
ourselves in readiness to inove at a moment's 
notice. In the afternoon we crossed the Rap- 
pahannock at Kelly's Ford, a«id occupied the 
ground that had been occupied by the rebels as 
winter quarters previous to the affair at Rappa- 
hannock station. Here we remained till the 
morning of the 24th. 

34th. — Received orders in the night to move 
this morning at eight o'clock. During the 
night it commenced drizzling heavily, and at 
the appointed hour, notwithstanding the pre- 
vailing moisture, we set out on the march. It 
is hardly necessary to state that it does not re- 
quire two weeks of rain to render the roads in 
Virginia next to impassable for the movements 
of an army. One night was found to be suffi- 
cient in Burnside's time, and one night was 
found to be sufficient, also, on the present oc- 
casion. "Where are we going?" "What is 
the object of a movement at this time of the 
year?" were the common enquiries. Some 
thought we were f^oing, by forced marches, to 
getthe inside track ot tlie rebel army and make a 
desperate plunge for Richmond. Others thought 
it was a reconnoissauce in force, a feint, a sort 
of blister plaster applied to the feet of the re- 
bellion to draw the bad humor from some other 
portion of its body ; or, in military language, 
a strategic movement intended to distract the 
operations of Longstreetin the west, by threat- 
ening Lee's army in the east. At all events, 
we came nearer blistering our own feet than 
we did the feet of the rebellion. Instead of 
plunging into Richmond, we plunged into the 
mud. After floundering along for a mile and a 
half, and nearly losing our way in the fog, we 
turned about and went back to camp. If we 
had waded one mile and a half further, it 
would have taken a blister plaster to draw us 
out. It came very near proving another mud 
march. 

26th. — On the 25th the weather cleared up and 
the indications were that we should soon make 
another plunge for Richmond. During the 
night we again received marching orders and 
this morning we set out for the Rapidan. We 
inarched soine ten miles, crossed the river at 
Culpepper Gold Mine Fortl and kept on through 
the Wilderness till eight o'clock at night, mak- 
ing about twenty-five miles in all. We made 
frequent halts on the way and deluded our- 
selves every time with the idea that we were 
going into bivouack. These halts, except 
when they are halts for rest, are terribly wor- 
rying upon the patience and endurance of a 
soldier. It is not long and rapid marches, it is 



not hunger and thirst, it is not cold and heat or 
the excitement of battle, it is not wading rivers 
and sleeping afterwards upon the ground that 
wear out the vigor of a soldier and make him 
prematurely an old man ; but it is these inex- 
plicable, nnysterious, everlasting halts. One 
mud hole in the road, or one little stream run- 
ning across it, will make from five hundred to 
a thousand short, perplexing halts for the rear 
of an army in marching the distance of one or 
two miles. You become leg- weary with halt- 
ing, not with marching. You beconae worn 
out with standing and waiting. Your eyes be- 
come blistered with watching. For the first 
five hundred halts you endure it stoically, con- 
soled with the reflection that, as there is an end 
to all things, there will be an end, too, of this. 
But after the five hundredth your patience be- 
comes a perfect wreck. Hereaiter let fines and 
imprisonment, knapsack drills, standing on 
barrels and riding the wooden horse, bucking 
and gagging and all other corporeal punish- 
ments be forever banished from the army. 
Only place the criminal in the rear, with just 
one mud hole a day to go over, and, my word 
for it, he will come out of the ordeal a thorough- 
ly punished and subdued man. 

27th. — To-day we marched to Verdiersville, 
where we arrived, after several halts on the way, 
towards evening. Some fighting had been go- 
ing on between the cavalry for several hours 
before we reached there, but on the approach of 
our corps the rebels fell back. We marched 
all this day through the Wilderness. This Wil- 
derness is said to comprise a tract of thirty 
thousand acres, belonging to wealthy men in 
Richmond who formerly used it as a hunting 
ground. A few clearings, in the shape of 
farms, occasionally let in the light here and 
there. The stone road from Fredericksburg 
to Orange Court House, a plank road and nu- 
merous bye-roads run through it in various di- 
rections. The guerrillas attacked our wagon 
trains on the way, and it was afterwards re- 
ported that one man from the Eighty-Third 
was either killed or taken prisoner. A regi- 
ment or two from our brigade was double- 
quicked back to the scene of action, but they 
did not arrive in time to catch the attacking 
party. On arriving at Verdiersville (which 
consisted of an old frame meeting house that 
had evidently been erected by beginning at the 
roof and building downward,) our line of bat- 
tle was proscribed, and to the Eighty-Third 
was assigned the duty of holding a railroad em- 
bankment which was about twenty feet high. 
This was the road that had been laid out and 
partly constructed between Fredericksburg 
and Orange Court House. A.t night we bivou- 
acked in line of battle, with arms stacked, and 
held ourselves in readiness to fly to them in 
case of a night attack. There was a belt of 
pine woods between us and the rebels, and the 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



81 



Pennsylvania Reserves were out in front of 
these woods carrying on a spirited skirmishing 
with ihf'n picket*. 

28tli— Wlien the morning came it was discover- 
ed that the enemy had left our front and gone 
off in the direction of Mine Kun. They liept 
up picket tiring till late at niglit and then 
quietly withdrew. Wo marched back during 
tlie day to Robinson's Tavern, on the stone 
road, and at niglit went into bivouack. It 
rained heavily all the afternoon. The mud got 
deep and the transportation of artillery was 
difficult, even on the stone road. Tne rain 
spared us after dark but we had the wet ground 
to lie upon. During the forenoon there had 
been considerable lighting going on liere and 
we found temporary breastworks whicli had 
been thrown up by our men. The rebels had 
been driven back and the advance towards 
Orange Court House was now open as far as 
Mine Run. 

liOth — This morning we started for Mine Run, 
distant about two miles and a half. Our brig- 
ade, under command of Col. Hayes, went to the 
front, took their position in a pine grove and 
relieved the piclcets of the Sixth Corps. The 
tiring was brisk when we arrived and the lines 
were al)out three hundred yards apart. The 
men were obliged to keep very close, as the 
least glimpse of a blue coai immediately 
brought a rebel bullet whizzing after it. The 
enemy had their pickets posted along the edge 
of the liill, concealed iu rifle pits just beyond 
the run. Hostilities were kept up between the 
two lines all day. At night there was a change 
in the weather and before morning it grew very 
cold. 

30tb — The hostility between the pickets sub- 
sided to-day and the firing gradually ceased. 
Towards bringing about this happy state of 
things our men had made the first pacific over- 
tures. " Why don'tyou stop firing?" bellowed 
one of our men across to the rebels. "You be- 
gan it!" was the reply. "No, we didn't; we 
came here yesterday and you commenced fir- 
ing at us." This explained the matter at once. 
We had relieved the pickets of the Sixth Corps, 
whom we found engaged in hostilities with the 
lebels, and the rebels were not aware of the 
change. When the matter became understood 
along the lines, both parties gradually ceased 
firing and began to come out of their rifle pits, 
and to yawn and stretch their limbs and to 
stand up by their fires without fear of being 
molested. Before this, each party had to keep 
fires iu their pits to keep from freezing. 

Dec. 1. — To-day I took a fair look at the rebel 
position, or so much of it as was to be seen 
from wuere our brigade lay. From what I 
could learn, our lines had the shape of a horse 
shoe, with the rebels on the interi<^r rim ; being 
very much the shape of the lines of battle at 
Chancelloi'sville, with the exception that there 
we were on the inside and the rebels on the 
outside. Jjooking from our pine grove, which 
was elevated, Mine Run bottom lies in our im- 
mediate front. Then you came to the run itself 
which is several feet deep in some places and 
whose banks, on the opposite side, are rather 
steep and perhaps twenty feet high, and in some 
places thickly covered with briars and bushes. 
Along the brow of the opposite banks there was 
a line of rifle pits, from seventy to thirty 
yards apart, containing two or three pickets 
apiece. From their picket line to their en- 
trenchments the distance was about a quarter 
of a mile, the field open, the ascent gradual and 



forming an excellent range for grape and can- 
ister. Taking everything into consideration, 
a charge up that hill would, in my opinion, have 
been a very hazardf)us experiment and would 
have resulted fatally, perhaps, had it been at- 
tempted. It was understood that the rebels had 
thrown up entrenchments along their whole 
line. In many places they were strengthened 
by abattis, or felled trees with their branches 
sharpened. Their position was decidedly a 
strong one, equal if not superior to that of 
Fredericksburgh. It was rumored that the at- 
tack was to be made to-day. Gen. Warren had 
gone around with the Second Corps to the left 
for the purpose of inaugurating the movement, 
but returned without having made the attempt. 
He found, so we heard, that an attack upon their 
position was impracticable, and accordingly 
did not order the attack to be made. During 
the morning oui's and the rebel artillery ex- 
changed compliments over our heads, and in 
a number of instances the propelling force of 
rebel powder did not prove sutficieno to keep 
their shells from falling among us. It was ru- 
mored during the day that the knapsacks of 
several brigades, lying near us, were stacked 
for the purpose of lightening the men in their 
contemplated charge up the hill. They would 
have probably got lightened or enlighten- 
ed still more had they made the attempt. The 
enemy's breastworks were bristling with can- 
non and they evidently had many troops con- 
cealed in the woods on the right and leftol their 
position in our front. 

During the day the pickets became still more 
friendly. Several ventured to approach each 
other and engage iu conversation and finally to 
commence tratficking in coffee and tobacco. 
These are two articles of consumption which 
soldiers will have if they have to forego every- 
thing else, and the appetite for them always 
increases v/ith the scarcity. The Yankees were 
always supplied with coffee and the rebels 
with tobacco, and the moment the pickets cease 
their hostilities and grow communicative, cof- 
fee and tobacco are the first subjects of con- 
versation. On this occasion the first advances 
were made by one of our men whose real ob- 
ject was to get near the Run and ascertain its 
depth, breadth and convenience of approach. 
This intercourse would have continued had not 
orders been issued prohibiting it on both sides 
for fear the soldiers would incontinently impart 
information to each other. In front of the For- 
ty-Fourth there was a very friendly interchange, 
not exactly of sentiments, but of something 
better, a nunaber of fine shoulders of mutton. 
A flock of sheep got between the lines, and 
both sides fired into it at the same time, killing 
a number, but neither side daring to venture 
out to bag the game. They finally came to an 
understanding, laid aside their guns, went out 
and got each a portion of the game, the Forty- 
Fourth bringing off the largest share. 

It was during the night of this day that Ser- 
geants McGill of Company B, and Zuver and 
Ceder of Company A, three venturous soldiers, 
were sent out to take the soundings of Mine 
Run and to ascertain whether a charge of in- 
fantry across it were practicable. They went 
out without arms to within a short distance of 
the stream, and, falling upon their faces, 
crawled carefully up to it, and with light pine 
poles took its measurement under the very 
noses of the rebel videttes. One of the rebels, 
in fi-ont of McGill, had his musket stuck into 
the ground at the time and was slapping his 



82 



Judson's History of 



hands around his body to keep them warm. 
He was relieved during the operation of sound- 
ing, and neither he nor the one tliat came after 
him discovered what was going on. 

2d. This morning Col. Hayes informed us 
that the orders of Gen. Sykes were for us to 
hold the position : which, I presume, it is hard- 
ly necessary to say, is the easiest thing in the 
world to do when nobody intends to drive you 
out of it. There is a great deal of eclat con- 
nected Avith the idea of holding a position in 
the face of an enemy, who are all the time ex- 
pecting you to attack them instead of making 
the attack themselves. I remember that we 
held the position at Fredericksburgh for forty- 
eight hours after we had failed to drive the 
enemy out of theirs, and took to ourselves a 
great deal of credit for doing so. It is true, 
we had to abandon it in the end ; but while we 
staid there we held it. lu this nistance, how- 
ever, the supposition was that in attacking and 
pressing back both flanks of the enemy, it 
would cause an unproportionate bulge at their 
centre; and in case this bulg§ extended as far 
as our lines we were to push it back with the 
points of our bayonets, or in other words we 
were expected to hold the position. 

3d. — We held the position during the whole 
day of the 2d without having anybody even 
attempt to take it from us, and threw up breast- 
■wrorks as a protection in case we should be sub- 
jected to a heavy shelling by the enemy. After 
dark we received orders to hold ourselves in 
readiness to quietly withdraw, and about two 
o'clock we did so and marched back towards 
Kobinson's Tavern. The whole army moved 
at the same time. Having halted there awhile, 
we started towards the Rapidan. Fires were 



kindled in the woods all along the route of re- 
treat. We made much more rapid time in 
going than we did in coming. When once an 
army commences a retreat, they have, for the 
time being, suspended all notion of fighting 
and, having let their courage down consider- 
ably below what is known as the sticking 
point, their only aim is to put as many miles 
as they can between themselves and the enemy, 
in the shortest possible space of time. This de- 
sire lends additional vigor to their limbs, and 
you then see none of that straggling on the 
march, which you always see on going to- 
wards the enemy. There is but little or no oc- 
casion for the command to " close up !" Only 
once on the way did I hear one nervous indi- 
vidual, who was posted on horseback by the 
road-side, probably for that purpose, call upon 
the men, as they were pressing forward, to close 
up. " Oh, you needn't give me any such com- 
mand as that," exclaimed a noisy corporal, 
'•you couldn't hold me back!" Day broke 
upon us long before we reached the Rapidan, 
and at ten o'clock we re-crossed the river at 
Germania Ford. After halting fifteen minutes 
lor coffee, we continued the march until we ar- 
rived near Stevensburgh, where we encamped 
for the night, after travelling over twenty 
miles, some of it on the double-quick and a 
good deal of it through the mud. The broad, 
fei-tile plains of Culpepper stretching away be- 
yond the Rappahannock to the Blue Ridge in 
the distance, were again before us. On the 4th 
we pulled up and moved to Rappahannock 
Station, where, after a day or two, we began to 
make preparations for going into winter quar- 
ters. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



83 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



The Author makes a digression, and descants upon the glorious adva7ituges of being a Soldier. 



The great historian, Gibbon, after treating 
his readers to a thousand or more pages of trea- 
sons, privy conspiracies and rebellions, bat- 
tles, murders, and sudden deaths, very sensi- 
bly comes to the conclusion ^hat they have 
grown tired of so nriuch slaughter and blood- 
shed, and therefore breaks, for a while, the 
thread of his narrative and proceeds, in imita- 
tion of Tacitus, to describe the manners and 
customs of the Roman people. In like man- 
ner I propose to devote two or three chapters 
in describing the peculiarities of a soldier's 
life, with some of their habits and customs 
while in camp, although in doing so I have no 
expectation of executing it in that Gibbonian 
dignity ot style which must constitute the true 
charm of all history. Moreover, I do not know 
that in this eflbrt I shall meet with the counte- 
nance of my readers, for I have noticed ever 
since the war broke out, that our people at 
home never relished their breakfast half so 
well as when accompanied by a morning paper 
announcing another bloody battle on the Rap- 
pahannock, or Chickahominy, as the case 
might be. But as the campaign we shall enter 
upon in the spring will probably satisfy this 
craving for blood and thunder, for all time to 
come, I shall adhere to my original design ; 
and if I do not come up in dignity to the style 
Gibbonian, 1 can at least claim that I shall 
equal it in the correctness of my descriptions. 

If any one should ask, what was the most 
honorable profession in the world, I should an- 
swer at once, that of a soldier. And why ? 
Because it is the most honored. I have read the 
histories of most of the renowned cranioclasts 
(Head-Breakers) who have ever lived, from 
Alexander and Julius Csesar down to those 
illustrious men who have adorned the modern 
P. R. of England and America ; and I have 
yet to find an instance in which a man did not 
receive more praise for breaking another's 
head than for submitting to have his own 
broken. There has always been the highest 
premium on that certain quality of the soul 
known as valor, and therefore it is not to be 
wondered at that the market should always be 
full of heroes whenever they come to oe in de- 
jnand. Napoleon used to say that " imagina- 
tion ruled the world:" and if you do but pick 
a man out of the crowd, where he was before 
unnoticed, prink him out in tantastic colors, 
stick a feather in his hat, and put a gun in his 
hand and give him something to shoot at, — 
from that moment he become transformed into 
a historical character. He becomes the observ- 
ed of all observers, and people turn around to 
look at him after he has passed them. His 
words are conned and noted in a book, and his 
exploits are winged around the glolie in torty 



seconds. He makes a movement and that 
movement is recorded in the newspapers. He 
fights a battle, and before the smoke has arisen 
from the field, his name becomes historical. 
The biography of a nation is the biography of 
its warriors, and the histoi-y of a nation is the 
history of its wars. Take these away and no 
man would take the trouble to write its his- 
tory. 

Besides being tbe most honorable, it is the 
most indeoendent life in the world. The mo- 
ment a man becomes a soldier, from that mo- 
ment he becomes an independent man. This 
may seem an absurdity when spoken of one 
who is constantly subjected to the orders ol a 
superior, but it is nevertheless true. He is de- 
pendent on no one man ©r set of men for what 
he eats, drinks and wears, and this dependence 
on men for soLuething to eat, drink and wear 
is what makes vassals of nine-tenths of the 
human race. The nation employs him, the 
nation feeds and clothes him, and the nation 
pays him. Most men, who want employment, 
have to seek it, beg for it, and often cringe like 
base fawning spaniels at the feet of their em- 
ployers ; and if they happen to get a job for six 
months they frequently have to spend as many 
months more in dunning lor their pay. Not so 
with the lordly and independent soldier. On 
the contrary, men seek him, beg him, fawn be- 
fore him, implore him, pay him to make a tar- 
get of himself in their stead. And here let me 
add that it is these attentions so flattering to his 
pride that tends to nourish that lofty spirit of 
self-esteem which is so prominent a trait in 
your genuine military character. When pay 
day comes he never has to go dunning for it. A 
well dressed individual comes around, unsolic- 
ited and unasked, and requests him to walk up 
to the captain's office and receive his pay. In 
a word, there is no profession or occupation, in 
which all are so promptly clothed, fed and paid 
as that of a soldier. His pay is not large, it is 
true. But then the glory attending the profes- 
sion more;than counterbalances the lack. His 
clothes are not the finest, it is true. But then 
Adam and Eve had none. His food is not the 
richest, it is true. But then it is good enough 
for a hungry man, and if a man is not hungry 
he has no business eating, anyhow. 

And then look at the romance of a soldier's 
life, how it creates and quickens the inspira- 
tions of genius. He makes the history of a 
nation, and that portion of its historv, too, of 
which it ever loves to boast. His deeds give 
birth to all that is great and inspiring in elo- 
qtience, poetry, romance and the drama. How 
many gi-and epics and lyrics, how many 
model and impassioned orators, how many 
historians has the soldier created ! Of his "dis^- 



84 



Judson's History of 



astrons chances, his moving accidents by flood 
and field, his hair-breadth 'scapes in the im- 
minent deadly breach, his being taken by the 
insolent foe and his redemption thence, and his 
travel's history, wherein he encounters antres 
vast and deserts idle, rough quarries, rocks and 
hills whose heads touch heaven," — these are 
the events in the life of a soldier which the his- 
torian, the orator and the poet delight to portray 
for the instruction and delight ot future ages. 

The soldier is a traveller and philosopher. 
No soldier returns to his home as he came 
away, a greenhorn. His constant intercourse 
with men of every nation, of every disposition 
and capacity, makes him a keen observer of 
human nature. The occupation that tries men's 
souls brings out their capacity and their char- 
acter to the surface and he reads thet-;, as ii 
were, in a book. He finds that many meu, 
who have great names at a distance, are really 
very small men in mind and principle, and 
that many a "heroic action," recorded in the 
newspapers, never took place in the field. He 
learns that the rapidity of promotion is due not 
always to those great qualities of head and 
heart which command sucoes'^, but to the in- 
fluence of personal friends, to political intrigue, 
to bribery and corruption. He discovers that 
some men who have figured prominently in the 
newspapers and whose names have been her- 
alded with praises for all that was brave and 
chivalrous, were looked upon by the army with 
contempt and were known to be infamous 
(iowards. 

He discovers too, on the contrary, that many 
of the best men in the army were slow in climb- 
ing to fame, because they scorned to gain it by 
the appliances of political bribery or intrigue. 
He finds that every man will, sooner or later, 
rise or sink to his own level ; he who has i-isen 
prematurely and by fictitious means, to go 
down ; he who is determined to hew out his 
fortune with his own sword and by his own 
valor and perseverance, to go up. He learns 
that those who make the best and most reliable 
soldiers in the field were the best and most re- 
liable men as citizens at home. He finds that 
those who swagger the most, and are the most 
insolent to their inferiors in strength, are in- 
evitably the greatest cowards when in the pres- 
ence of real danger. He finds that those who 
spoil the soonest for a fight, -ire the soonest 
cured. He finds that large men do not make 
the best soldiers, either in pluck or endurance, 
as is commonly supposed. He learns that there 
are men in the ranks who are infinitely above 
their commanding officers in pluck, pi-esence 
and capacity. He sees reason to believe that 
the tremendous valor and eagerness for com- 
bat, of which he hears so much both in ancient 
history and modern newspapers, are for the 
most part exaggerated creatures of the imagin- 
ation, and that when a man goes into battle he 
goes in with this prayer on his lips : "God grant 
that this cup may pass away !" He learns that 
all men who bear the name of soldiers are not 
fighting men, and have never been in a battle 
from the time they entered the army until 
the time they left it. Ho thinks he has dis- 
covered that what is called patriotism in our 
revolutionary history, is, (not to speak irrev- 
ently of their memory,) a word that contains 
more alloy than the naked eye is able to dis- 
cover at the distance of over eighty years ; and 
that what kept our ancestors in the ranks with 
bleeding feet and tattered garments was mili- 
tary discipline more than anything else. Yes, 



I must confess that the knowledge I bavs 
gained of human nature since I went to the 
wars has weakened a little^ust a little — my 
faith in the immaculate purity of the patriot- 
ism ot our revolutiouarj^ sires who fought in 
the ranks of the revolution. And I cannot 
help but think that if Daniel Webster had 
soldiered i^ for three yeai-s just before t'ue rais- 
ing of Bunker Hill Monument — I cannot say 
that he would have doubted the patriotism of 
every man who fought in the armies of the 
Revolution — but I do think that his practical 
knowledge of an army, in general, would have 
Liialerially cooled the arder of his imagination 
when he was preparing to throw himself in 
that great speech to the surviving soldiers 
ot the Revolution, commencing "Venerable 
men, you have comedown to us from a former 
generation," &c. 

I have said that a soldier was a traveller. If 
any man ever has the romance of travel it is 
he. The changes ot a campaign, or the calls of 
duty carry him through various portions of 
his own or of foi-eign countries. Now he 
marches over lofty mountains or through de- 
lightful values, where he sees all that is grand 
and picturesquy in the works of nature. Now 
he plows through the classic waters of the Po- 
tomac, or the Chesapeake, or the great ocean 
itself, or finds himself stationed in some great 
city where he sees the whole world of mankind 
with whose habits and modes ot life he becomes 
acquainted. 

A great deal has been said about the hard- 
ships of a soldiers life, and perhaps with njore 
of truth than of poetry. It is both the hardest 
and the easiest life in the world. Carrying a 
knapsack on one's back, loaded with five days 
rations besides one's clothes, a haversack cram- 
med with three days rations, besides a gun and 
a cartridge box strapped to one's waist and 
filled with powder and lead, through mud and 
rain at the rate of twenty or thirty miles a day; 
camping on the ground with nothing but 
two pieces of cotton cloth, a yard square 
each, for protection in time of a rain; 
getting up at two o'clock in the morning for a 
march, or marching all night without rest, and 
then going into battle before breakfast the next 
morning, must certainly be called a hard occu- 
pation : and if it was of every day's occurence 
it could not be endured. But, in my opinion, 
a farmer who goes single-handed into the 
woods, cuts down great trees and toils away, 
day by day, until he has cleared himself up a 
farm, and changed the wilderness into a smil- 
ing garden, sees much the hardest times of the 
two. Everything in the world is relative. 
Everything becomes comparatively easy when 
we once get used to it. For a delicate young 
man to leave the counter or the desk, and the 
luxuries of home and plunge at once into the 
hard work of an active campaign, it would be a 
hardship indeed. But soldiers become gradu- 
ally inured to the hardships of their profession 
They grow less sensible to fatigues and expo- 
sures which would have killed them at first. 
They become so accustomed to an out door 
life that they cannot breathe freely under the 
roof a house. They will sleep on the ground, 
with the canopy of heaven for a roof, during a 
whole campaign without injury to their health, 
and then catch a cold by sleeping in a bed un- 
der cover of a roof for a single night. Con- 
tinued loss of sleep probably tells more upon 
the human constitution than any amount of 
fatigue. Yet the soldier becomes accustomed 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



85 



to wakefulness in his duties as a sentinel, and 
to be aroused from his slumbers by the fre- 
quent alarms of the night. He frecjuently goes 
on fatigue parties by night, when forts and en- 
trenchments are to be thi'own tip, and in these 
duties, it is true, there is, at times, something 
of hardship. But during winter quarters, and 
during a good portion of the season of active 
campaigning, he lolls about camp with very 
little to do that tasks the endurance of his phy- 
sical powers. On the whole, a soldier has a 
great deal ©f hard work, a great deal of easy 
work and a great deal of nothing to do. The 
hardest part of all is, perhaps, for a man to he 
deprived, for three years of the society of his 
wife and children : and for this reason I have 
always thought that none but young and un- 
married men should go to the wars. Unless, 
indeed we may except those un'jappy indivi- 
duals whose wives make it so hot for them at 
home that tbey are glad to go to the wars (or 
to the devil) for the sake of a moment's peace. 
If J were asked what kind of men made the 
best soldiers, 1 would say, as a general rule, 
boys between the ages of sixteen and twenty. 
Not all boys of sixteen are sufficiently stout i 
and resolute, but there are thousands! 
and hundreds of thousands that are. Per-| 
haps eighteen would be the safest standard, 



to commence from. One boy of eighteen is 
worth two men of thirty and three of forty. 
Your men who have come to the age at which 
personal comfort is paramount to everything 
else, Avhose habitsare formed by the indulgence 
of years and who have wives and children to 
keep their thoughts constantly turned home- 
ward, are not the sUitf heroes should be made 
of. Give me vour vigorous, rollicking, devil- 
may-care boys ofeighteen, whose habits have not 
yet been moulded and framed to ideas of social 
comfort ; whose thews are every day knitting 
and growing stronger ; who have nothing to 
forget and nothing to forego, and who are easily 
fashioned to the habits of a soldiers life. Of 
such material was more than two thirds of the 
army at tirst made up. They were the first to 
answer their country's call ; and when their 
terms of service had nearly expired, they were 
again the tirst and almost the only ones to 
answer the call for veteran volunteers and to 
take the chances of another three years of hard- 
ships, dangers and privations. These are facts 
worth remembering. Men may legislate and 
declare war and bring the country into danger, 
but they have to depend upon the boys to get 
them out of it. If this country is ever ruined, , 
it will be ruined by the men. If it is saved, it ' 
will be saved by the boys. 



86 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER XIX. 



The digression continued; in which the author describes the Eighty -Third in Winter Quarters, with 
other scenes and passages in Camp Life. 



About the 8th of December, a spot in the 
woods at Rappahannock Station was selected 
for a camp, one mile from the river, and 
on the ground over which we had di"iven 
the rebel skirmishers a month before. No 
orders had been given to go into winter 
quarters, but our return from Mine Kun 
was the surest indication that such was 
the intention. We had ueyer before settled 
down into regular winter quarters. During 
the first winter at Hall's Hill, we lived in ex- 
pectation of being ordered every day to move, 
and consequently did not make those prepara- 
tions for comlort which we otherwise would 
have made. 

During the winter at Fredericksburgh, the 
same rod hung over our heads, and although 
we had better shelter than before, yet we felt 
that we were dwelling in habitations tbat we 
could not call our homes. But this time 
winter quarters were taken for granted, and 
we accordingly went to work to build up our 
little city, wherein we might have some of the 
tiomforts of civilization, and oh ! some of the 
retiuements of society, too. Oar camp was 
laid out into regular company streets, log huts 
were erected and chimneys for them built of 
stone, of which there was an abundance. — 
Those, wlio had sufficient care and industry, 
succeeded in making themselves what might 
have been called comfortable quarters, had not 
the camp been unfortunately located on a wet 
spot of ground that received all the water that 
came down from a hill close by. 

I have often wished that tlie people at home 
could, one and all by turns, have a glimpse at 
a soldier's habitation when in winter quarters. 
We form an estimate of everything by compar- 
ison, and, judging by comparison, they would 
at once conclude that the men, who consented 
to forego all the comforts of home for such a 
life as this, deserved nothing less than eternal 
gratitude at the hands of their countrymen. 

They would compare their own spacious 
dwellings, supplied with every ai-ticle of furni- 
ture, and with all the appliances of comfort, to 
these little log shanties, scarcely eight by ten 
Jeetin size, without tables, without chairs, with 
no cooking utensils but a cotiee pot and a fry- 
ing pan, a thin strip of cotton cloth for a roof, 
and a door so low that they have to stoop when 
they enter it. They would think of their nice 
feather beds and counterpanes, their soft car- 
pets and grates of coal tire over which they 
warm their feet before going to bed, when they 
beheld the bed of a soldier, made of poles cov- 
ered over with cedar or pine leaves, with a sin- 
gle blanket to wi-ap himself in, and with his 
knapsack for his pillow. When they come to 
sit down to his homely meal and to eat pork 
and beans from a tin plate, and drink their 



creamless coffee from a tin cup, and to sit upon 
a three legged stool while doing it, at a greasy 
table two feet square, they wouM then think of 
their tables at home, spread with a nice white 
table cloth, loaded with clean plates, tea cups 
and saucers, where their palates were regaled 
with savory steaks, soft rolls, potatoes tried 
crisp, plum puddings, mince pies and all the 
little et ceteras of an epicurean taste. Judging 
in this manner, they Avould say, without hesi- 
tation, that a soldier's life was a hard one, and 
that any other life in the world was to be pre- 
ferred to it. 

But the soldier on the other hand, after the 
turmoils anddangersof a summer campaign, is 
glad to have a season of rest, and to find shelter 
anywhere and in any shape. When the bleak 
northern winds begin to whistle around him, 
he is glad to get himself a hut of logs and a 
fire place, and in it he imagines himself com- 
fortable. After the hard living of the season of 
active service, after going for months without 
vegetables, so necessary as antidote to disease, 
he is glad to get where he can once more till up 
and satisfy that craving which a long abstinence 
produces. In winter quarters this craving be- 
comes appeased. There he draws his rations 
of soft bread, his rations of potatoes, beans and 
other vegetables with more regularity. The 
sutler, too, is a great institution in the economy 
of a soldier's lite. From him he buys his con- 
densed milk with which he makes his coffee 
more palatable, his flour with which he makes 
warm biscuit, his butter, his eggs with which 
to replenish his larder and satiate the longings 
of his appetite. The sutler's are a much abused 
class, and no doubt they frequently practice 
extortions upon the soldiers ; but if it were not 
for them there would be still more hunger and 
more complaint. The pangs of appetite are 
something that no man long foregoes who has 
money in his pocket, and when he has no 
money he will run his face for something to 
gratify the desire that rules him for the mo- 
ment. 

Ill many respects an encampment is like a 
city, and, in fact, many of the present cities of 
Europe are but the continuation of the old 
Koman encampments of tilteen hundred and 
two thousand years ago. The sutlers are the 
merchants and grocers who furnish almost 
everything to eat, drink and wear that is need- 
ed oiiiside of the regular army supplies. Every 
regiment has a postmaster, and the men are as 
regularly supplied with their mails as any post 
office in the country. Every brigade has a 
blacksmith, supplied with a travelling forge 
and tools, for shoeing horses and repairing 
wagons. Every brigade, too, has its harness 
maker, and many regiments have their tailors 
and shoemaker. Every regiment furnishes a 



EigJity-Third Regiment^ P. V. 



87 



mechanic of some kind and whenever their 
services are needed they are detailed for that 
purpose. From the ranks men are detailed as 
clerks at the various headquarters. A guard 
is established around the camp, with a com- 
manding officer, whose duties are to protect 
the camp, to give the alarm in case of a tire, 
sitppress outbreaks, arrest and imprison 
disturbers of the public peace, and perform 
all the functions of tlie police of a regularly 
organized city. Courts Martial supply the 
place of civil courts, and they are constant- 
ly in operation, meting out punishment to 
ofl'enders against the rules of good order and 
military discipline. Every regiment has its 
physiciians or surgeons, and its hospital stew- 
ard who deals out the medicines and acts the 
part of a village apothecary. Every regiment 
has (or is supposed to have (its preacher or 
<'haplain, who every Sabbath thunders (or is 
supposed to thunder) the glad tidings of salva- 
tion to his devout hearers, and officiate in the 
burial ceremonies of the dead. 

In fact, in an army there is hardly a man 
who does not keep a hotel of some kind. Ma- 
sonic lodges have been established and candi- 
dates initiated into the mysteries of masonry. 
Theatres have been improvised and the drama 
enacted under covering of a tent. The amuse- 
ments of the race course are frequently in- 
dulged in, and gamblers ply their trade with as 
much assiduity as they do in anj^ of the large 
cities. Photographers and artists abound 
throughout the army, and their apartments are 
thronged with customers. Musicians are every- 
where to be found, skilled on the violin, the 
flute, the banjo and guitar, and who form 
themselves into bands, and play for the enter- 
tainment of dancing parties, and receive pay 
for their services. Dancing parties are given 
by the officers of a reginaent or brigade, and, 
before they come off, they form as much the 
subject of gossip as if they were to take place 
in the salons of a city millionaire. Even spec- 
ulation sometimes run high, and the soldiers 
traffic among each other with as much zeal in 
making fortunes as the gold gamblers in Wall 
Street, or the oil speculators at Titusville. 

In the economy of the camp there is as much 
attention paid to cleanliness of streets as there 
is in the best regulated cities. Every morning 
details are made for the purpose of policing, 
that is to say, cleaning and sweeping the 
streets. All the dirt and refuse of the camp 
are picked up and carried off, thrown into a 
pile together and burnt up. Where good lo- 
calities are selected, side walks, set with trees, 
are made along the rows of tents or cabins, the 
streets are turnpiked and the whole camp 
drained by a system of sewers and ditches. A 
spot of ground, rounding on the top and slop- 
ing off on both sides, such as we had at Hall's 
Hill, makes the best site. Our camp at Rappa- 
hannock was the worst we ever bad in this re- 
spect. It received all the water that came from 
the hill above us, and kept good hold ot it, too ; 
so that we were deluged in water and swamped 
in mud for the best part of the winter. 

I have often wished I had the power to write 
the history of a Cracker Box, that is to say, the 
boxes in which Hard Tack is brought to the 
army ; for next to the hard tack itself it has 
proved to be one of the most useful institutions 
known to a soldier. To trace the history of a 
cracker box, from the time it was ftrst taken 
from its parent tree, through all the various 
Uvses to which it has been put jathearmy, would 



require more time and space than I have to 
spare ; and I shall only answer the question by 
asking in return. To what uses has it not beeli 
put? After being emptied of its contents, it is 
taken by the cooks, made into separate apart- 
ments, and those apartments filled with coffee, 
sugar, rice, beans aad other articles of food. It 
becomes, in fact, the soldiers pantry. They are 
made into tables for eating and writing upon. 
They are fashioned into stools for sitting, and 
the soldier who has even a stool to sit upon is a 
lucky fellow. They are used for making doors, 
and floors, aud bunks for beds. They are used 
for cupboards and checker Ijoards. They are 
used as strong boxes for carrying the officers' 
provisions and kitchen furniture on the march. 
During the hot weather when in camp, the}'' 
are sunk in the ground and the bvitter put into 
them to keep it from melting. They are fre- 
quently used aschimneys, or parts of chimneys 
to create a stronger draft. And to cap the climax, 
one day as I was passing along the lines in front 
of Petersburgh, my ears were suddenly ravish- 
ed by strains of the most bewitching harmony, 
and, on approaching the charmed spot I found 
a soldier discoursinu dulcet melody upon a fid- 
dle which he had whittled out of a cracker box 
wuth his jack knife. 

In connection with the cracker box it may be 
appropriate here to speak of the immortal 
Hard Tack and the various modes iu whicii 
it is served up for the palate of the military 
epicure. In what way the word "hardtack" 
became corrupted from "hard cracker," it is 
useless to conjecture, as there is no known rule 
of etymology by which to trace the literary in- 
ventions of a soldier to their fountain head. 
Hard tack is at onco the staff and the rod of a 
soldier's life, and especially to those who are 
not blessed with cast iron teeth. They are 
generally made of an inferior quality of flour, 
but are sometimes made of a very good quali- 
ty. The age of these crackers, when they come 
to camp, is very much like the age of an old 
maids, rather uncertain. In the early part of 
the war they bore the ear marks of decided 
longevity, many of them being inhabited bv 
monsters of the miocene period. They then 
bore the stamp of so late a period as 1810, but 
the soldiers were not charitable enough to be- 
lieve that this mark was used to indicate the 
era (»f their manufacture ; affirming that it was 
a forgery, and that the genuine hard tack bore 
the stamp "B. C." 

Hard tack and coftee form the staple of a sol- 
dier's food while on the march. He does not 
not say, when he gets hungry, that he must 
take his breakfast, or dinner, or supper, but 
that he must take his hard tack and coffee. If 
he ever has any variety, the whole thing is ex- 
pressed in these two words. At first they were 
eaten just as they were manufactured, hard 
and dry. But soon the spirit of invention 
found out a varietj'^ of ways in which they were 
made more palatable and easier to grind. By 
holding them to the fire, on the end of a sharp- 
ened stick or on the point of a ramrod, it was 
found that the action of the heat expanded and 
softened them and imparted to them something 
of a flavor. By soaking them in cold water (hot 
water will not do) it was found that they be- 
came swelled and softened to such a degree that 
they could be hashed up and cooked in the fry- 
ing pan, with the aid of grease extracted from 
salt pork, thus forming a very substantial meal 
of cracker hash, ^j cutting up the dry article 
finely and sweetening it with sugar and salt, it 



88 



Judson's History of 



was found to make a very pleasant pudding 
They have been frequentiv ground into flour 
made into batter and baked in the shape of pan 
cakes. Any way and every way to save grind- 
ing '.hem with the teeth. The soldiers drend 
them, yet could not do without them on the 
march. He could not carry half the necessary 
amount of bread in any other shape. Daring 
the summer campaigns, when he gets nothiny 



else for weeks, he looks forward to the time 
when he shall reach a base, not of operations 
but of supplies. And if it is whispered by the 
commissary sergeant that to-morrow they are 
to_ have soft bread, thp rumor flies upon the 
wmgs of the wind throughout the camp, and he 
at once forgets his hunger in the delightful an- 
ticmation of oncemorehaving his appetite satis- 
tied with a good, old fashioned loaf of bread. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



89 



CHAPTER XX. 



The digression still continued; wherein the author shows of what an army of patriots is composed, 
and tvinds up ivith a philosophical essay on courage. 



I have often thought that an army was the 
best place in the world to study, and to become 
thoroughly familiar with human nature 
Men of almost every age and nation, of every 
temper and capacity, aad of every turn of mind 
are there to be found grouped together. In an 
army of so called patriots, how many are to be 
found who are truly entitled to that virtuous 
appellation? How many of them have the 
ring and stamp of the genuine coin? A gr< at 
many, no doubt ; but there are less now than 
history will give credit for a hundred years 
hence. How many enlisted from a desire of 
marching over the frozen ground with bare, 
bleeding feet and i?i ragged garments just for 
the sake of being paid in depreciated currency, 
and having the future historian call them 
patriots and blazon their sufferings in immor- 
tal eloquence? A (treat many, perhaps. But 
if you would know what impelled thousands to 
come to the war, sit down with me beneath the 
shade of this tree, and, as they pass before us, 
like the yhosts in Macbeth, I will the tales of 
their patriotism uulold. To begin : — 

There goes a man who knocked his wife down 
with a wash board, and then ran ott" and. joined 
the army to spite her, looking behind him all 
the time to see if she would call him back. She 
told him to go on, good riddance of bad rub- 
bidge! He did go on, and enlisted ; and when 
she heard of it, then she came down, and in 
in melting letters forgave hini and called him 
back to her bosom. And when he read that, he 
wished the army and the war were at the devil. 
But it was too late and he is now a patriot. 
But let us pass on to the next. 

There goes a young man who got into a wo- 
man-s.crape at home; and in order to save him- 
self from being shot or from suffering the penalty 
of the law, he left the young woman in her sor- 
row, ran off and became a soldier. And when 
he came to realize that there was as much dan- 
ger of getting shot in the army as there was at 
home — that he had leaped from the frying pan 
into the tire— he, too, wished that the army was 
at the devil and that he had staid at home and 
mariied the girl. But it was too late, and he 
also became a patriot. 

There goes a man who got jealous of his wife, 
and in a moment of despair and rage left home 
and went to the wars, under the delusion that 
leaving her to her lover (if she had one,) was 
the best way to reform her and bring peace to his 
own mind. How much do you suppose a man 
cares for his country, when that green-eyed 
monster is gnawingathisvery vitals? And then 
when, the injured wife wrote compassionate let- 
ters to her unhappy spouse, protesting her in- 
nocence, and telling him how he had wronged 
her, these letters convinced him, at a distance 
of five hundred miles, of her purity more than 



his own eyes had done when dwelling with her 
under the same roof. Then he, poor man, 
wishes the army was at kingdom come, and 
that he liad not made such a fool of himself. 
But it was too late, and he, too, in spite of him- 
self, had become a patriot. 

That man, passing yonder, came to the army 
to make money. What ! enlisted into the ranks 
to make money? Yes. He is a professional 
gambler, and one of those jackals who prowl 
around over the field at night, after a battle, 
searching the pockets of his dead comrades for 
money. He has heard that after pay-day the 
soldiers are flush of money, and are as reckless 
of it as they are flush, and he has accordingly 
become a patriot for the purpose of plying his 
arts of knavery upon those who are foolish 
enough to be led awav by the hazards of a game 
of chance. Every night, when off duty, and 
while their money lasts, he is to be found in 
his den, sweeping the board of its piles of 
greenbacks, and causing the utterance of curses, 
not loud but deep, Irom the mouths of his fool- 
ish comrades. With the true instinct of knave- 
ry he sews up his ill-gotten gains in the linings 
of his breeches for fear some other knave will 
steal it, and, if he falls in the field of battle, he 
will be robbed of it all by oneof his own feather. 

Alas! what soul-sickening sight is that? An 
old man, bowed down and infirm with 
years, and his head covered with the frosts 
of over sixty winters ! With a virtuous indig- 
nation you involuntarily exclaim, "Are there 
not young men enough to fight the battles of 
the Republic? Are we so low that we have to 
rob the grave of it^ victims in order to fill up 
our shattered and diminished ranks? Where 
are this aged man's ungrateful sons, daugh- 
ters, blood relations, that they have suffered 
him to endure the perils of a soldier's life for 
the sake of a bare subsistence? Where is the 
government, that it suffers such wrongs upon 
its aged citizens ? Or, peradventure, it may be 
that the fires of patriotism warmed the old 
hero's breast and that, leaving all, he rushed 
forth at his country's call, as he did in the days 
of his youth, when he helped to beat back the 
British lion frc ni our shores. Oh, most rare 
patriotism!" Just hark you, neighbor, for a 
moment. T lat old man was decoyed from a 
poor house, about three months ago, by one of 
these bounty-brokers. The broker sold him as 
the substitute prolably of some stout bullock 
of a man for the sum of three hundred dollars, 
kejit two-thirds of it himself and gave the rest 
to the aged pauper. His hair and beard were 
dyed black, and the poor old fellow persuaded 
to tell a lie and say he was nnder forty-five, 
and so become a soldier, with the promise of 
his flesh-broker that he would soon be dis- 
charged from the service for his infirmities. 



90 



Judsoji's History of 



The examining sui-geon, no doubt, received a 
fee for passing him as an able-bodied man. In 
a little while the hair-dye wore off, and the sil- 
ver began again to appear, and the old man is 
found to be unfitted, both by age and disease, 
for the service. He will soon be discharged, 
and the government will have the satisfaction 
of knowing that it has been swindled by the 
very men whose voices are the loudest for the 
war. But look at tke next character. 

That is an old man, too, but he is a man of 
quite a ditferent stamp from the other. He 
looks to be between fifty and sixty. His hair 
is iron gray and his shoulders considerably 
stooping. He enlisted for a bounty, it is true, but 
he has been a soldier by profession from his 
youth up, and he has a right to thrive and 
make money in his proft^ssion. He has served 
in the British army, has been in the wars of 
India and in the Crimea, has served his time 
out faithfully and has now a right to enter the 
service of any nation he chooses. War is not 
a matter of patriotism, but a profession with 
him. Yet he will do his duty aj well, as hon- 
estly and as faithfully as the noisest patriot in 
the land. Ah, me! it is a sad sight, indeed, to 
see a man of his age panting under the bur- 
den of his knapsack and wiping away the pers- 
piration that bedews the gray locks upon his 
wrinkled brow. But when men have long fol- 
lowed one occtipation they find it difficult to 
adapt themselves to a new one. And though 
their own has been the hardest and the most 
dangerous of all, they will still bear the evils 
that they have rather than fly to others that 
they know not of. 

That man coming yonder with slow, measur- 
ed tread and with a sorrowful countenance, is 
a rebel deserter. He was taken from his wife 
and children and conscripted into the rebel 
army, and, seizing the very fii-st opportunity, 
he left them, escaped into our lines, and was 
.sent to the North. There he found himself 
without anything to do, and, without the 
means of support, ana eager to grasp at 
the first chance of employment, he became a 
substitute and enlisted into our army. He has 
heard nothing from his family since he was 
torn away from them, and he knows not what 
naay be their fate. These melancholy reflec- 
tions seem to be wearing upon him and plow- 
ing his face full of fui-rows. He is ni )ody and 
has no ambition. He stands between two 
fires. His dread of being taken prisoner by 
the enemy, from whom he deserted, makes hiiii 
timid and not to be relied on in the day of bat- 
tle. He durst not desert from us for he has no 
where to go. This is another one of the pat- 
riots upon whom we are depending to conquer 
the rebellion. 

The man behind him is a foreigner who 
landed on our shores without a cent of money 
in his pockets. As men, who find themselves 
in that condiuon, are apt, like drowning men, 
to catch at straws, he look the first desperate 
chance of tilling bis pockets with money, and 
enlisted as a substitute. He has but little or 
no heart in the work, and is awaiting his 
chance to get sick and "bum" out of the ser- 
vice, or to desert. Let him pass. 

The next man is a professional thief, and can 
no more withstand the temptation to steal than 
a hungry man can resist the temptation to eat. 
He is a regular bounty -jumper and cares as 
much about the country as the devil is sup- 
posed to care about religion. He is also await- 
ing his chance to desert. Ho stole money from 



his comrades on the way to the army, and had 
to be tied up by the thumbs before he would 
disgorge the stolen property. He stole after he 
got to the army and had to be tied up again be- 
fore he would confess his guilt. He becomes 
sick just before every battle, or falls out of the 
ranks and is nowhere to be found when his 
services are the most needed. He is another 
pillar of the republic. 

Halt! who goes there? Observe that noisy, 
rattle-headed, devil-may-care chap of eighteen 
as he goes sailing along, screaming at the top 
of his voice just for the sake of hearing himself 
yell. Perad venture you think he be a patriot; 
one whom the victories of Miltiades would not 
let sleep. Oh, no, he never heard of Miltiades. 
He was about sixteen when he came to the 
wars ; and just before that he had perpetrated 
some boyish prank, some outrageous breach of 
domestic discipline, for which his parental ac- 
cestor had taken down the old cow skin and 
with it had warmed the seat of his pantaloons, 
whereat the youngster became infuriated and 
ran off from iiorae and enlisted in the army. 
And then, when his weeping mother and re- 
pent:int father came to him with tears in their 
eyes, his spite forsook him and he wished him- 
ed himself out of the scrape. But it was too 
late. He was full of life, however, and his 
spirits were buoyant and he got over it and is 
now one of the best soldiers to be found in the 
army. 

That young naan, yonder, came to the wars 
simply because he thought it was his duty to 
do so, and because he was ashamed to stand 
about the streets at home, indulging in patriot- 
ic gasconade, while his old coiupanions were in 
the field battling for the existence of the nation. 
He became a soldier as a matter of principle 
and of duty to himself and his country. Perhaps 
he had also some of that martial ardor and de- 
sire for renown "udiich are inherent in all gen- 
erous minds. He weighed thechanci swell be- 
fore coming and then resolved, being in, to 
bear it to the best of his ability. He is one of 
those men who dreaded, yet feared not, the ap- 
proaching cloud which darkened the political 
horizon, and who wished from the depths of his 
soul that it could have passed aAvaj'. Yet while 
others were indulging in empty declamation 
and proclaiming their readiness to lay down 
their lives for their country, if needs be, he 
quietly shouldeied his musket and went forth 
to meet the enemy. He endures all the fatigues 
and dangers and privations without a murmur. 
He is always at his post and never shrinks 
from anj' responsibility however dangerous or 
disagreeable. Such are the men who give tone 
and character to the army and on whom the 
hopes of the republic must depend. They 
answered promptly to their country's call, and 
did not wait to be scared into it by the terrors 
of a draft. 

The next individual is also a soldier by prin- 
ciple, for his motives in coming to the war 
were prompted solely by his love for the wo- 
men; and I hold that love of wommi and love 
of country are one and the same thing. It is 
impossible for the one to exist without the 
other ; or, perhaps, to speak more correctly, the 
man who is devoid of one is devoid of the other. 
Is not our country called our common mother, 
and is not a mother a woman ? Let the women 
once turn their backs upon tLn' young men 
who refuse to go to their country's defence, and 
see how many of them would be left at home. 
One of the greatest sources of inspiration to 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



91 



deeds of valor is the love and applause of 
woman. Suppose that in the beginning they 
had all frowned and said nay — how many, even 
of the most patriotic on either side would have 
rushed to arms? As everybody knows, the 
women of the South at first ruled the market 
in the article of valor, and, to this day, they 
run the highest bids on that commodity down 
in the land of Dixie. Women admire bravery 
and detest cowardice, and everybody will en- 
dure more, sacrifice more, to win their esteem 
than to win anything else. As the fair sex are 
said to be, directly or indirectly, the cause of 
most wars, so, take them away from the world, 
and there will be no wars. For men are not 
fond enough of cutting each other's throats to 
indulge in that kind of sport long at a time, 
when there are no admiring eyes to gaze upon 
them, and clap their hands and cry ^rawo at 
every stroke of the sword. Men may grow 
tired of the admiration of men, bvit of women 
never. Not one in a thoiasand will acknowl- 
edge the truth of what I am saying. Bat let 
them dive down into their own souls — let them 
go back to the hour, the moment, when they 
hung suspended betwixt twooninions, whether 
to enlist or not, and when even a breath would 
have swayed them one way or the other ; — let 
them go back to that eventful moment, when 
the scales of resolution hung evenly balanced 
and quivering in their minds, and ask them- 
selves if the words or looks of praise and en- 
couragement of the women, or of some one 
woman, were not thrown into the scales, there- 
by making them soldiers, and deciding their 
destinies perhaps forever. But one more char- 
acter in the role of patriots, find I have done. 

That modest looking young gentleman co-:i- 
ing this way, with shoulder straps, is a sort of 
literary Bohemian and has been, in his day, 
almost every thing by turns and nothing long 
at a time. The great passion of his life has 
laeen to stand on the banks of some raging 
canal, and behold his own name emblazoned 
in red chalk upon the prow of some majestic 
canal boat as she swept by him, walking the 
waters like a thing of life. When the war 
broke out he ran to arms, partly from patriot- 
ism, partly froin love of excitement, partly 
from lack' of something to do, but chiefly to 
win renown in order that his ambition for ca- 
nal-boat fame might be gratified. In the be- 
ginning he had a great desire to be shot at, but 
he soon gave evidence that he had a still great- 
er desire to be missed. By a certain art in con- 
cealing his natural timidity, and by recklessly 
exposing himself where there was not the 
sligiitest danger, he has, on one or two occa- 
sions, managed to get the reputation of bravery 
among people at a distance : but those who 
know him best say he is no fonder of danger 
than any body else. He will probably con- 
trive to come out of the war with a small stock 
of reputation, and if he would rest there he 
would do well enough. But he will no sooner 
get out than he will turn right around and up 
set the whole of it by attempting to write a 
book. 

I do not recollect whether Gibbon attempts, 
any where, to define the article of courage ; 
but I have thought it not improper, while 
speaking of the motives that impel men towards 
danger, to speak also of that quality of the 
mind which sustains them while in the midst 
of it. In my opinion, what is called courage is 
very much a matter of stomach with some 
men, of pride or principle with others, and a 



compound of both with all men. What is 
commonly called brute courage is not known 
in the army. That article exists only among 
men who indulge in fisihting where there is no 
danger of death. It is moral courage that sus- 
tains a man when his life is in peril. In many 
instances it may be said to be the result of fear: 
for soldiers sometimes dread worse the pun- 
ishment of a breach of duty on the field of 
battle than they do the bullets of the enemy. 
They would frequently give back and skulk 
out of danger, but t'le point of a sword at their 
breasts drives out the other fear, and courage, 
in a little while, becomes predominant. 
The words courage, bravery, valor, gallant- 
ry, heroism, may all be said to express 
the same principle of human nature, only in a 
diSVrent degi'ee. A man may have courage 
without any mixture of that more elevated 
sentiment which amounts to bravery. A man 
may be brave without being gallant. To win 
the reputation of gallantry a man should pos- 
sess a high spirit and a well cultivated mind, 
should have dash in his character, should have 
a high command and be mounted on horse- 
back. Mere bravery fights on foot, gallantry 
on horseback. As for the word valor, it be- 
longs more to past ages when men fought with 
the cold steel and were called valiant. Hero- 
ism is a compound of all, and combines brav- 
ery with endvirance, adventure and high i"e- 
solve. I have said that courage is very much 
a matter of stomach. I have seen men fight 
well one day, when their stom;ichs were in 
good order, and give evidences of timidity the 
next, when their stomachs were out of order. 
A fit of indigestion makes a coward, for the 
time, of many a supposed hero. At such times 
it takes all the pride a man is master of to 
overcome the weakness of the flesh. If his in- 
digestion amoiints to absolute indisposition, 
his courage is gone by the board and he wants 
to get as far from danger as possible. But 
these fluctuations in his courage are merely 
temporary. His pride, or moral principle, is 
what sustains him in the long run. Such a 
man may at times dread danger as much as 
the most timid, but his pride forbids him to 
show it. Rank and position are also great in- 
centives to bravery. Many men will give a 
very fair account of themselves when placed 
in a prominent command, but would lose their 
chivalry in a moment if put into the ranks 
with muskets in their hands." The greater their 
responsibility, the greater their daring. Cour- 
age, or bravery, in one sense of the word, is a 
proper sense of duty on the field of battle, and 
you will consequently find men of the most 
quiet and apparently timid dispositions at home, 
to be the most resolute and reliable men in ac- 
tion. In other words, men of the most reliable 
principles in private life make the best and 
bravest soldiers in the field. Therefore you 
will always find that quarrelsome btillies, 
thieves, cheats, sneaks anri liars, ortosum it all 
up in one word, unprincipled men in private 
life, are, without exception, cowards and pol- 
troons in the army. A bad man may not fear his 
inferior in strength, but he dreads a death grap- 
ple with the King of Terrors. On the field of 
battle a man's courage, under favorable cir- 
cumstances, often assumes the character of en- 
thusiasm. I have seen men become as happy 
in a fight as a good Methodist at a revival. 
But these exaltations of the soul only come iu 
the hour of success, when the enemy is on the run 
and the victors pursuing him with all the wild 



92 



Judson's History of 



delight of a devotee grasping at the immortal 
crown of glory, I have uever seen any mani- 
festations of absolute fear, of trepidation or 
trembling during a fight, or durinsi; even tlie 
anticipation of one. This is not the feeling 
that takes possession of the soul. The feeling, 
previous to a battle, is a sort of sadness which 
weighs upon the heart, a kind of oppression 
which shuts out everythinglike mirth or levity 
and sets a man to thinking most earnestly and 
seriously of the condition of things on the 
other side of that bourn whence no traveller 
is said to return. Ah, me! the grand resolves 
he then makes, if only spared this time, to be- 
have himself in the future, are not to be num- 
bered by any known rule of arithmetic. He 
becomes, on the moment, a moral philosopher, 
and never before saw the folly of war and 
bloodshed so strongly as now! In imagina- 
tion he transports himself to some retired spot 
in his memory, where all is peace, and wishes 
himself there once more. He resolves on cer- 
lain reforms in his morals which he has never 
before had time to attend to.' If spared, he 
vows to become a pious man, to build churches, 
ibund charitable institutions and to devote the 
remainder of his life to religious meditation 
tmd prayer. In a word, lie never before dived 
HO deeply into the profundities of divinity, 
>o subtly analyzed the moral obligations 
of man to man and discovered such 
hidden beauties in the whole system of the 
('hristian religion, as now. His thoughts, 
could they be transferred to paper as they come 
and go, would form one of che most beautilul 
systems of moral philosophy ever given to the 
world. As soon, however, as the battle com- 
mences he linds something else to turn the 
current of his thoughts in another direction. 



His curiosity becomes aroused. To be the eye- 
witness of a battle which may be historical for 
all time to come, is very apt to arrest the atten- 
tion of any man and recall his mind from sober 
meditations upon death. And if he is called 
upon to take part in the conflict, attention to 
duty at once absorbs all his powers of retlec- 
tion. As the roar of battle increases his sad- 
ness passes away, and in the excitement of the 
occasion he becomes transformed into another 
man. All doubts, all misgivings, all dreads of 
danger, all fear of the future give place to the 
excitements of the wild carnival upon which 
he is entei-ing. A bullet or a cannon ball may 
come shrieking by him, and he merely steps 
aside from the instmcts of self-preservation, 
not of fear. As the dan^rer of death increases, 
his fear of it decreases. He becomes insensible 
lo either terror or pity. He sees his comrades 
falling around him like leaves, and is unmoved 
by the sight. It is not because his heart has be- 
come hardened. On any other occasion he 
might weep over their fall. But death is the 
business and expectation of the hovtr, and his 
nerves are strung to meet the bloody issue. 
And if victorj'^ perches upon his banner, his 
delight is of that character which passeth all 
understanding. It is like the joy of the lover, 
who, after weeks of doubt and despair, is made 
happy in the embrace of his beloved ; or like 
that of the religions mourner, who, after pass- 
ing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, 
perplexed while on the way by a thousand 
fears, and anxieties, and combats with the 
Prince of Darkness, comes out victorious in 
the end ; and, as the fritits of his victory, is al- 
lowed to have a glimpse of the heavenly man- 
sions of joy in the distance. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



93 



CHAPTER XXI. 



The Campaign o/1864. Return of Spring. Gen. Gh-ant in command. The army againin motion 
Crossing the Rapidan. Battle of the Wilderness. The Battle of Laurel Hill. 



I suppose by this time my readers (if I have 
any) are anxious for another bloody battle on 
the Rappahannock, or in some other part of 
Virginia, and I must proceed to dish it up to 
them with all possible haste. Before commen- 
cing, however, I must speak of the important 
changes that had been made in the Army of the 
Polomae. In January, 1864, Capt. Woodward 
had received the commission of Colonel, and 
Capt. McCoy the commission of Lieut. Colonel, 
of the regiment. During the winter one hun- 
dred and sixty-nine men of the Eighty-Third 
had re-enlisted as veteran volunteers, ihenames 
of whom will be found under their proper 
heads at the end of this history. The First and 
Third Army Corps had been broken up and 
consolidated with the Fifth and Sixth, and the 
whole army reduced to three corps : the Sec- 
ond commanded by Gen. Hancock, the Fifth 
by Gen. Warren, and the Sixth by Gen. Sedg- 
wick. General Meade still remained 
in command of the army. Gen. Burnside's 
(Ninth) Corps was in camp at Annapolis, read}' 
to join us as soon as the spring campaign 
opened. Lieut. General Grant, in the mean- 
time, as Commander-in-Chief, had arrived and 
taken up his headquarters at (-ulpepper Court 
House. The Second Division (Regulars) be- 
longing to our corps were consolidated into one 
brigade, to be called the First Brigade of our 
division. The old First Brigade, consisting of 
the Eighteenth, Twenty-Second and Thirty- 
First Mass. and the Hundred-and-Eighteenth 
Penna. was broken up and consolidated with 
the Second and Third Brigades : the Eighteenth 
Mass., Col. Hays, and the Huudred-and- 
Eighieenth Penna., Col. Gwyn, joining our 
brigade. Gen. Gritfln again took command of 
the division and Gen. Bartlett of the brigade. 
Our corps was now composed of four divisions 
and numbered about thirty thousand men. The 
Eighty-Third had also received a number of 
recruits during the winter, and when the spring 
campaign opened we started with the regiment 
nearly full. The long rest of the winter, with 
its abundance of good living, had recruited the 
strength and spirits of the soldiers, and they 
again became impatient for another season of 
active service. As the end of April approached, 
the shores of the Kappahannock began to re- 
sound with the busy note and preparation of 
war ; and when May came in, with its dry 
roads and smiling suns, the mighty host began 
to move towards the Rapidan, soon to electrify 
the world by a succession of the most sanguin- 
ary battles that history, perhaps, has ever re- 
corded. 

On the Ist of May we broke up our winter 
quarters at Rappahannock Station and marched 
across the river to a point about a mile and a 



half east of Ingall's Station, pitched a tempo- 
rary camp and remained there till the third. 
The only thing worthy of mention that took 
place there was a territie sand siorm, the tirst 
we had ever beheld, equal almost to anything 
of the kind that ever happened in the Great 
Desert of Sahara. On the afternoon of the 2d, 
just as the brigade had got into line, for a gen- 
eral dress parade, and the troop was beating 
off, the storm commenced. At first a dense, 
black cloud, darkening the whole horizon and 
apparently rushing down from the peaks of the 
Blue Ridge, was seen in the distance. It ap- 
proached with the most wonderful velocity, for 
in a moment more the winds arose and the air 
was filled with dense clouds of tine, whirling 
sand, filling the eyes and nostrils of the men 
so as to almost drive them to blindness and 
sufibcation. Without awaiting the word of 
command, each regiment broke for camp on a 
double quick and in the best order it could. 
Then came the rain, and for several hours it 
poured down in torrents, and the men, not well 
provided with shelter, passed an unpleasant 
night. This was our first introduction to some 
of the hail storms that took place alter we 
crossed the Rapidan, 

The next day, however, came off clear and 
ple;^sant, and in the afternoon we struck tents 
and marched towards Culpepper Court House. 
We arrived near there after dark and went 
into bivouac. At twelve o'clock at night we 
were again in motion towards the Rapidan. 
We marched in the direction of Raccoon Ford, 
our route being indicated by numerous fires 
which were evidently placed there with the in- 
tention of making a feint of crossing at that 
point. All at once we struck off down the riv- 
er, and the next morning we reached Germa- 
nia Ford and crossed over at an early hour on 
fiontoon bridges. The cavalry and the pon- 
toniers, who preceded us, met but little resist- 
ance, as none of the fords were guarded by 
anything more than a few mounted videttes. 
If they had had any considerable force there they 
could have successfully resisted our passage, 
as the banks were high, the country broken 
and thickly wooded, and well covered by strong 
lines of fortifications. 

After haltinn for a few hours on the other 
side, the corps pushed forward and at five in 
the afternoon reached a point on the Orange and 
Fredericksburgh road a little beyond the Old 
Wilderness Tavern. Here we bivouacked for 
the night. The Sixth Corps came up and 
formed line on our right, and during the night 
the troops of both corps threw up a line of 
breastworks in our front. Burnside and Han- 
cock joined on our left and also threw up lines 
of breastworks. The length of the entire line 



94 



Judson's History of 



of battle was between five and ten miles and 
extended alona: the roads through the densest 
and gloomiest parts of the Wilderness. 

On the morning of the 5th the rebels made 
their appearance in our front. They came up 
on the Orange Court House road, and were 
seen about half a mile ahead filmg off to the 
right and left for tLe purpose of forming line of 
battle. Nothing could be seen of their move- 
ments except wha; was seen upon the road. 
The moment they plunged into the woods tliey 
were lost to the sight. Here were two great 
armies forming line of battle for a desperate 
struggle, within half a mile of each other, scar- 
cely a movement of either of which could be 
observed by the other. At four o'clock our 
division moved to the front and were put into 
position tor the purpose of making a charge 
upon the enemy's lines. We took a position 
not over fifty rods from them, but they were 
still invisible. Our brigade was posted in the 
ceutre of the division, the First Brigade ( Regu- 
lars) was posted on our righ-t anct the Second 
Brigade, under Col. Sweitzer of the Sixty- 
Second, on our left. We were to charge in two 
lines. While lying there, avraiting for the. 
signal, we could distinctly hear every word of 
command given by the rebel officers as they 
brought up their troops and formed them in 
line "of battle. The Eighty-Third and the 
Eighteenth Mass., formed the first line of the 
charging column of our brigade, and the two 
regiments were placed under command of Col. 
Hays; Col. Woodward still retaining command 
Of the Eighty-Third. The fcluudred-and- 
Eighteenth and the Twentieth Me., Jormed the 
second line, a few paces to the rear of us, while 
the Forty-Fourth stooiil alone on our right. In 
our immediate front there was a small opening, 
some thirty rods in width, and, on the edge of 
the woods at the other side, the rebel skir- 
mishers were posted. We were about to charge 
Tipon an invisible foe, or, to use a common 
phrase, were about t© go it blind ; and the 
novelty of the thing excited in our minds 
about as much curiosity to explore the woods 
before us, as we may imagine filled the minds 
of Columbus and his companions when they 
launched their barks upon the hitherto unex- 
plored ocean in search of a new hemisphere. 

At length the order to charge was given ; and 
in an instant the whole three brigades, in dou- 
ble line and with bayonets fixed, ran forward 
with such a yell as must have made t'le John- 
nies realize, for once, Milton's phrase of "hell 
broke loose," if they never had before. For 
they no sooner heard it than they got up and 
dusted without ever firing a shot. Their skir- 
mishers, however, as was their duty, fired a 
few rounds and than lit out after the rest. Col. 
Woodward was struck below the left knee 
with a bullet at the outset, and was helloed off 
the field. We kept on yelling and firing into 
the woods at every jump ; for now that we had 
got the .Johnnies on the run, it was policy on 
our part to keep them going, lest, by giving 
them time to halt and take breath, they should 
turn and give us such a punch in the ribs as 
would take the breath out of us. We encoun- 
tered no enemy and but few of us saw any, ex- 
cept the lew skirmishers that had been shot 
down or wounded in their retreat. On we 
went, o'er briar, o'er brake, o'er logs and o'er 
bogs, through the underbrush and overhanging 
limbs, for about three quarters of a mile, yell- 
ing all the while like so many demons, until 
we came to another small opening and there 



halted. We had by this time got into such a 
snarl that no man could find his own company 
or regiment. In tact, the whole brigade had to 
be unravelled before we could again form line 
and continue the pursuit. After a great deal 
of effort on the part of the officers, the line was 
again got into shape, when on looking around 
we discovered that oar right flank was uncov- 
ered and exposed to the enemy's fire. The 
First Brigade had failed, for some reason, to 
follow up, and the enemy, having now recov- 
ered from their panic, began to rally ahd come 
; round on our exposed flank and rear. At the 
same time they attacked, in heavy force, the 
Second Brigade on our left and were beginning 
to drive it back. This left our brigade alone 
with both flanks exposed and without any 
support. It was now the .Johnnies' turn to 
come the game of puU-the-link-horn over us, 
and right well did they improve the opportu- 
nity. Every man saw the danger, and without 
waiting for orders to tall back, broke for the 
rear on the double quick. The rebels, in their 
turn, commenced yelling and sending minnies 
after us, killing and wounding many of our 
men. Among the wounded were Cols. Hayes 
and Gwyn, both of whom succeeded in getting 
to the rear in safety. We ran al most every step 
of the way back, and when we got there we 
laid down on our backs and panted like so 
many hounds which had just come In from a 
ten hours chase after a gang of foxes. Such 
was the result of our first day's battle in the 
Wilderness. Lieut. Col. McCoy now took com- 
mand of the regiment and led it through every 
battle from that time up to the day it was mus- 
tered out of the service. 

The Eighty-Third lost a number of good men 
on this occasion, among whom was Sergeant 
Rogers, the color bearer. We never knew what 
we had accomplished until a Richmond paper 
fpll into our hands a short time afterwards. 
From it we learned that we had broken two 
lines of battle, composed of Hill's corps, and 
that they ran to the rear in such a panic that if 
we had been well supported and had followed 
them up, our attack would have probably re- 
sulted in a complete victory. In fact, such was 
their panic (according to the writer) that Gen. 
Lee began to fear an entire rout unless the re- 
treat were soon checked, and, with tears in his 
eyes, offered to lead a brigade in person in 
order to rally the fugitives and to save the day. 
All this we had accomplished simply with a 
yell. 

On the afternoon of the 6th we again went to 
the front and took a position on a line parallel 
to the one we had charged from the day before, 
but further to the right. There was brisk 
skirmishing and some cannonading all day. 
The rebels had thrown up breastworks during 
the night, and were plainly to be seen across 
the open field, a quarter of a mile ahead. Just 
opposite our brigade they had planted a battery, 
which they opened upon us several times, but 
without much effect. The brigade lay several 
lines deep on the slope ot a ravine in the woods, 
which gave us protection from their artillery. 
During the day heavy fighting was going on, 
on the left between Hancock's and Burnside's 
Corps and the rebels, and heavy skirmish- 
ing on the left of our own corps. Towards 
evening ihe rebels made a charge, with a 
yell, upon the Sixth Corps, on our right and 
yelled a portion of them out of their entrench- 
ments and then followed them up. They 
pressed them back so far that they got into our 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



95 



rear, and there began to be some panic among 
the regiments of our division. A number of 
them withdrew in haste for lear of being sur- 
rounded. The most of our brigade, having no 
orders to withdraw, stood their ground until 
the fighting was over, when they were ordered 
bacls into the breastworlis. in the meantime 
our troops had rallied, driven back the rebels 
and re-established the lines in their old posi- 
tion. The heaviest of the fighting in the 
Wilderness, however, was done on the left by 
Hancock's and Burnside's corps. As it took 
place in the dense forest, there was no chance 
for artillery, and consequently but little was 
heard during the engagement. 

On the 7Lh the battle raged all day long, and 
with great fury on the left ; for there it was 
where Lee endeavored to break through and 
divide our army in two. In our immediate 
front the enemy opened a battery and shelled 
us for several hours; but as he had to fire al 
random, through the woods or over the tops of 
the trees and without knowing precisely what 
range to give to his shot, they did but little dam- 
age. We lay behind our entrenchments till 
nearly dark, when we commenced making 
preparations fi>r a march towards the left ; it 
being the first of that series of celebrated flank 
movements which formed a new era in the 
grand tactics of the Army of the Potomac, and 
which have already become historical. The 
rebels seemed to understand what was going 
on, and began at the saine tims to leave our 
front and to march to their right. They yelled 
as they went, and as their voices kept going 
further and further away, this was the first 
evidenc3 we had that they were also on the 
move. They even got started in advance of us. 
At dark our columns were put in motion. We 
marched through the Wilderness roads where 
we found the Second and Ninth Corps lying on 
their arms, behind breastworks, composing a 
line of battle five or six miles in leunth, with 
swamps and dense, gloomyjungles before them, 
in which they had had death grapples with hu- 
man tigers on that day and the day before. 
The wilderness was so vast and the openings 
so few that the army not only had to move, 
but to form also its lines of battle, on the one 
or two roads running through it. We pressed 
forward all night without halting, and about 
ten o'clock on the morning of the 8th we ar- 
rived near Laurel Hill, in Spotsylvania county, 
some five or six miles from the Court House of 
that name. 

Our cavalry, under Gen. Sheridan, who had 
taken the advance, had already encountered 
the rebel cavalry and driven them back sever 
al miles. About two miles from Laurel Hill 
they made so strong a stand that a portion of 
our corps was sent forward to assist in dis- 
lodging them from the position they had taken. 
In the meantime we halted in the woods, and 
endeavored to avail ourselves of the opportu- 
nity tosn:itcha hasty breakfast; but before we 
could either rest or eat we were again ordered 
forward. On emerging from the woods into 
the open country, we found the rebels had all 
fallen back to Laurel Hill, and, as this was an 
important position to gain, we were ordered to 
advance and drive thein out of it. On march- 
ing a mile further we found they had formed 
line in the edge of a belt of woods, but liould 
not see in what strength they were or whether 
they had fortified themselves for the occasion. 
The impression seems to have beau, among the 
commanding generals, that there were but a 



few cavalry posted there, and that all we had 
to do was to advance upon them and they 
would retire at our approach. "Hurry up!" 
said an officer on Gen. Griffin's staff, " or you 
won't get a shot at them." The stin had by 
this time grown very hot, the men had march- 
ed all night without rest, had had no break- 
last and their knapsacks were still upon their 
backs. The Eighty-Third filed out into the 
field on the right of the road, formed line of 
battle, and then advanced under cover of two 
sections of artillery which were planted at dif- 
ferent parts of the field. At the same time the 
Forty-Fourth formed on the left of the road 
and advanced toM'ard the enemy from that 
direction. 

We started without baj'^onets fixed and en- 
deavored to get up a yeil and a double quick, 
but the men were too much exhausted either to 
run or to yell. As we advanced, some one 
suggested that a charge could be more eflfective- 
ly made with fixed bayonets, and so the order 
ran along the line and the men fixed them as 
they went. Company C were thrown out as 
skirmishers to protect our right, as a tew reb- 
els had been already discovered posted behind 
temporary works in another body of woods on 
that riank. We found the rebel skirmishers 
lying upon the ground on the l)row of the hill, 
and as we approaehed them, they sprang up 
and commenced firing and running to the rear. 
It began tw appear now, as we ueared the 
woods, that we had counted without our host, 
and that we were about to encounter an enemy 
who were in larger force than ourselves. Nev- 
ertheless the Eighty-Third pressed on, and as 
we approached we received a volley from their 
musketry. At that instant we dashed forward 
on a double quick, and not till we came close 
upon them did we discover that they were be- 
hind a breastwork of logs and rails. 

We found a whole brigade, several times our 
ovvn number, thus entrenched: and, feeling 
secure in their numbers and in their sheltered 
position, they stood their ground and com- 
menced pouring in a murderous fire upon our 
ranks. Our men, maddened at this display of 
S()Uthern chivalry, yelled "Cowards!" at the 
rebels and then rushed upon them and com- 
menced [)lying the bayonet. Cribbs and Ce- 
der of Company A, Robb of Ccmipany D, and 
Eaton, Wentworth, Berlin, Host, Purdy, Petti- 
grew, Baskin and Lowrie of Company G, and 
I know not how many others, sprang over 
among them, like infuriated tigers, and fell to 
bayoneting the enemy within their own works. 
?50 terror-stricken were the rebels by the daring 
valor of these men that they were thrown into 
confusion and turned to run, but their officers 
placed the points of their swords to their breasts 
and forced them back into the ranks. A score 
of rebeis fell beneath the cold steel of these he- 
roic men ; but they paid dearly lor their hero- 
ism. Robb, Wentworth, Host, Baskinand Low- 
rie fell covered with wounds. Eaton cameback 
with three dangerous wounds, Ceder es- 
caped with a bullet through his thigh and Ber- 
lin was wounded and taken prisoner. The 
bayonet was vigorously used along the whole 
line. We stood face lo face, not over fifteen 
feet apart, for over half an h<iur — so close that 
the discharges of our muskets almost flashed 
in their faces, — but still the enemy stood their 
ground. They were so posted that we received 
the fire from two lines, both of which were 
protected by breastworks. Our right flank was 
also exposed to the fire of their skirmishers 



96 



Judson's History of 



who were posted, as we have stated, in another] 
body of woods about fifty rods to our right. 
To contend any longer against such odds, so 
well protected, was madness. We had already 
lost heavily, and, if we had remained much 
longer, we should have all been shot down: 
and so we fell back, without much regard to 
order, and left the ground to be disputed by 
the re-inforcemeuts which were already on the 
way to our support. 

Our commanding generals had by this time 
discovered that something more than two regi- 
ments were necessary to dislodge tlie rebels 
from thtir position, and that there were plenty 
of chances to get a shot at them without the 
necessity of hurrying up to doso. As we were 
retiring we met a brigade advancing under 
cover of a battery, to a renewed attack. This 
brigade was also driven back, for they had 
witnessed our repulse, and sitch sights do not 
contribute much to the courage and dash of an 
attacking column.* During the dav several 
attempts were made by detachments of troops 
to dislodge them, but they 'signally failed. It 
was the common impression that had tneafiair 
been properly managed at the start, the posi- 
tion could have been carried and held. As it 
was, they repulsed a great pan ot our corps by 
detail. In the meantime they had been heavi- 
ly re-inforced, and their position was now se- 
cure. During the night they threw vip in- 
treuchments ; and the remainder of our army, 
having also come up, also fell to work with 
pick and spade, and the next morning two lines 
of breastworl<s, bristling with batteries, were 
to be seen, less than eighty rods apart, frown- 
ing defiance upon each other. 

This day was a disastrous one for the Eighty- 
Third and did a great deal towards impairing, 
for the time, the morale of the men : for they 
all knew that it was a badly managed aflfair, 
and that they were rushed into the fight with- 
out any display of skill or foresight on the part 
of their commanding generals, rhey had met 
with a severe loss and had gained nothing ex- 
cept that they had fully sustained their old rep- 
utation for bravery. The exact number of 
killed and wounded I am not able to state posi- 
tively ; but the figures were something over 
fifty killed and considerably over a hundred 
wounded, some of whom were taken prisoners 
and carried to Eichmond. Twenty-five or 
thirty uninjured men were also taken and af- 
terwards re-captured by Sheridan's cavalry at 
Beaver Dam Station. Our whole loss, in 
killed, wounded and missing, at the Wilder- 
ness and at Laurel Kill amounted to over three 
hundred. 

The only officers who fell upon this day were 
Capt. George Stowe and Lieut. Alex. B. Lang- 
lej'. Poor i>-^towe ! If any man ever died la- 
mented it was he: for he was of a kind and 
obliging disposition, and was very popular in 
the regiment. He had none of those rougher 

*The rebel position was first held by iheir cavalry, 
who had just been relieved by Kt^rshaw's Division 
of Longstreet's Corps when tiie Eighty-Third made 
its charge. They had double quicked three miles 
to reach the spot. After tije Eighty-Third fell bao.k 
they were attacked by the Marylnud Brigade, which 
madethiee unsuccessful ct.Hrgf^s and are said to 
have plied the bayonet freely. Our wounded boys, 
who laid there during the ftgbt, relate that on the 
third charge both the Maryiauders and the rebels 
fell back at the same time; but that the rebels, 
• having discovered this, again rallied nnd held pos- 
session of the ground. They bayoneted some of our 
wounded men after their surrender, out of revenge. 



and sterner qualities which are supposed by 
people at a distance to be the true type of a 
soldier; yet he was never known to quail in 
the hour of danger, or to shrink Irom the re- 
sponsibilities of any duty that was assigned 
him, — attbrding another illustration of the 
proverb, that gentleness of manners can be 
united with firmness of purpose. He had re- 
peatedly expressed his determination never to 
resign nor to leave the army until his term of 
service had expired ; saying, that as he had 
been instrumental in inducing his men to en- 
list he would now stand by them to the last. 
Ue had been n)arried but little over half a year, 
and to us it seemed cruel that so good a man 
should have been sacrificed in sucli a badly 
managed affair as the battle of Laurel Hill. 

Lieut. Langley was a memVier of my own 
company, and I must confess that I had a strong 
liking to many of his qualities: for he was a 
most resolute and plucky soldier and was al- 
ways ready to dare and to do more than the 
strength of two such men could stand. He was 
one of those determined men who never de- 
spaired of the republic, who favored a more 
vigorous prosecution of the war, who went in 
for giving the rebels no rest, day nor night, 
and whose principle it was never to say " Die ! " 
under any circumstances of disaster. He had 
not a lazy bone in his bodj^ and whatever he 
undertook, whether to work or to fight, he ex- 
hibited the same indefatigable industry and 
perseverance. - - —— 

There is one circumstance connected with 
this battle which I aiust not fail to notice. 
There have been plenty of what are called bay- 
onet charges, but this was the first time the 
bayonet was ever itsed in all the battles of the 
Army of the Potomac. When I say used, I mean 
used by a charging column, in actual conflict : 
for in ninety-nine hundredths of all the bayon- 
et charges that are ever made, either the at- 
tacking columns are checked, or the party at- 
tacked give way before coming into close en- 
counter, A rebel narrative, in speaking of 
ihis battle, declared that if there had ever been 
any doubts heretolore, since the war began, 
that the bayonet had been used, those doubts 
were now dispelled. And with their usual 
disregard to the truth, they endeavored to 
convince their people that all this heroism on the 
part of our men was the result of an infuriated 
passion, inflamed by the use of intoxicating 
liquors. The truth 'was that the men, so far 
from being inflamed with whisky, had not 
Ijeen warmed even with a ctip of coffee ; and 
bad marched all nigh; and gone into the battle 
without their breakfasts, with their knapsacks 
upon their backs and sweltering beneath the 
rays of a burning sun. 

To return to the regiment. After we had 
fallen back in disorder, each man made his 
way to the rear where Gen. Warren's head- 
quarters had been established and which had 
now become a rallying point for all the fugi- 
tives belonging to the corps. The color bearer 
of the Eighty-Third had also been severely 
wounded, but the colors were rescued and 
brought off the field, and were hung up for the 
men to again lally upon.* The stragglers 



*The colors, on this occasion, were carried by Cor- 
poral Vogus of Company G, who liad rescued them 
whea Sergeant Rogers fell at the battle of the Wil- 
derness. While the regiment was charging up 
towards the breastworks, he received a severe 
wound in the side and fell with the colors. Corpo- 
ral John Lillibridge, of the Color Guard, iniiuedi- 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



97 



came up very slowly, but towards evening 
thej' had all got together. We were then 
ordered to take a position on a byo-road lead- 
ing down through the woods towards the right, 
in order to keep watch upon the enemy in that 
direction. On reaching the place we threw up 

atelv seized them and was about to carry theiu for- 
ward, when Vogus recovered, and, again takins: the 
tlag, pressed forward and planted it on the breast- 
works of tlie enemy. In a few moments afterwards 
he was hhot throiigti tbe breast. Fearing the colors 
miglit be captured, he seized them. Avhile in tlie act 
of falling liimself, and hurled themto tlie rear where 



temporary breastworks of logs and rails, es- 
tablished a picket line and bivouacked for the 
night, after having partaken of the first cup of 
coffee and the first hard tack that we had eaten 
for the last twenty-four hours. 



they were rescued by Corporal Dan Jones, of Com- 
pany F. Dan was shortly after wounded himself, 
aud, while getting off tlie field, handed the colors to 
a soldier of the Forty-Fourth, wlio brought them off 
safely and delivered them to Sergeant Keck, who 
returned them to the regiment. This was the near- 
est the Eighty-Third ever came to losing its colors. 



98 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER XXII. 



How we got ready to viake a charge and didn^t. Battle at Jericho Ford. March to Spotsylvania 
Court House. March to the North Anna. Aj[fair at Pole Cat Creek. iSkirmishing at NoelVs 
Station. 



The next morning we again went to the 
front, and lay in reserve about a quarter of a 
mile to the rear of the breastworks. There was 
a good deal of cannonading and musketry dur- 
ing the day, and we were much exposed to 
both. Several casualities occurred in the brig- 
ade, some ol "which were in the Eighty-Third, 
and all of which were by chance shots. We 
laid on our arms all day, ready to go to the 
front at any moment we should he called upon. 

It seems to have still been ther determination 
of Gen. Grant either to carry Laurel Hill, or 
to make a feint of doing so lor some strategic 
purpose. Towards the evening of the 10th the 
First and Third Brigades were marched out 
beyond the breastworks for the apparent pur- 
pose of making a charge upon the breastworks 
of the enemy. The lines of the two armies 
were not over eighty rods apart at this point. 
But as the ground was somewhat rolling in the 
intervening space, we managed to get out and 
form line without drawing their tire. We were 
to charge upon them in three lines. The Eighty- 
Third and theHundred-and-Eighteenth formed 
the front line, and were placed under the com- 
mand of Lieut. Col. McCoy. After lying there 
half an hour, awaiting orders, our position was 
shifted a little further to the right. I must con- 
fess that I had some misgivings as to the judg- 
ment of the commanding general who had or- 
dered or advised this charge; for, as this was 
an important position, the rebels had fm-litied 
it strongly, made it bristling with batteries, and 
undoubtedly bad heav3' forces in reserve be- 
hind the works. Every man in the ranks saw 
the folly of the attempt, and, judging from the 
undercurrent of their conversation, it is not 
probable that they would have made a very de- 
termined etfort, or gone far, even if the charge 
had been ordered. I observed the countenan- 
ces of the officers, from colonels down, and I 
must say that there were the longest faces upon 
this occasion of any previous one ; and the ex- 
perieni-e they had bad upon this same tieldtwo 
days before, was not calculated to light them 
up with a smile. For my own part, I am free 
to admit that I bad begun to have the most 
gloomy forebodings of disaster and death, and 
had about concluded to make my peace, when 
all at once my fears were dispelled by the inf.)rm- 
ation that our movements were to be governed 
by those of the regulars, and that we were to 
go no further than they did ! From that mo- 
ment I experienced a tranquility of the soul 
such as I never before felt on the eve of going 
into battle. At length the order to forward 
was given. We got up and started. There 
was some tiring; but where I am not able to 
say. Our men advanced a few rods, halted 
and laid down. It was almost dark when this 
movement took place, and I did not see what 
was done on the right, nor understand why we 
halted, nor why we were not ordered to go 
ahead. I heard afterwards, however, that the 



regulars had no sooner received a volley from 
the rebels than they climbed for the rear; and 
as we were to be governed by their movements, 
we were under no obligations to proceed any 
further on the journey. If I ever had reason 
to thank God lor the regular army, it was on 
that occasion. And if we had reason to blame 
them for their conduct on the 5th, we forgave 
it all for their splendid conduct to-day. By 
their prudent and judicious behavior they not 
only saved the Division from a bloody repulse, 
but laid us under a debt of gratitude which I, 
for one, shall never forget to my dying day. 

After the operations of this day — which will 
always be illustrious in the history of the 
Third Brigade as the day on which they got 
ready to make a charge and didn't (thanks to 
the Regulars)— we marched down the hill 
again, like the King of France, and that night 
we reposed upon our laurels; that is to say, 
we slept on the north side of Laurel Hill. 

During the 11th we still lay in reserve, ex- 
posed to the fire of artillery and musketry from 
the front. On the morning of the l"2th a detail 
of one httndred men was made from the 
Eighty-Third, and sent out to the extreme front 
into the woods to the left of the position where 
we had made the charge on the Sth ; and to- 
wards evening the brigade, including the rest 
of the Eighty-Third, was sentotf several miles 
to the left where Hancock had beaten back the 
right wing of the rebel army during the day. 
The rebel lines were something in the shape of 
an elbow. The pickets of the Eighty-lhird 
were in front of one angle and the balance of 
the regiment in front of the other. During the 
whole night a cons' ant rattle of musketry was 
kept up between Hancock's men and the rebels 
at this corner, 1 he object of which was to pre- 
vent either side from getting possession of a 
lot of artillery, from which the rebel gunners 
had been driven, but which our men were una- 
ble to captitre. The bullets irom Hancock's 
men came over into the picket men of the 
Eighty-Third, and the bullets of the enemy 
went over into the other part of the regiment 
who were lying with the brigade; so that the 
two portions of the regiment were exposed to a 
fire during the whole night, partly from the 
rebels and partly from our own men. 

The brigade returned the next day and took 
a position further to the rear, at right angles 
to our old line, and threw up breastworks. The 
pickets were still at the front. They wore 
posted in a hollow in the woods, at the foot of 
the hill on which was the rebel line of intrench - 
ments, and about fifty rods from it. On the left 
we were joined by the Seventh Massachusetts, 
Colonel .Johns, which formed the extreme 
right ot the 8ixth Corps. A thick growth of 
small pines concealed us from the observations 
of the enemy. Our right flank was somewhat 
exposed to the tire of their sharpshooters, who 
were concealed in rifle pits in front of their 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



99 



lines. During the day we resolved to make a 
demonstration in order to ascertain whether 
the enemy, at this point, were still in their 
works and in what ])robable force. So we 
raised a yell and tired a few shots, as if about 
to make a charge. As our lines were not far 
apart the rebels instantly took the alarm and 
commenced tiring into the woods with a great 
deal of animosity. From the rapidity and vol- 
ume of their tiring, we readily came to the con- 
clusion that they were in strong enough force 
to make hot work for us should we attempt to 
charge upon their works. In the afternoon 
General Griffin sent down word to the com- 
manding officer of the picket line to press for- 
ward the skirmishers and ascertain whether 
the enemy were still behind their works. The 
commanding officer replied that he would press 
forward tlie skirmishers if necessary, but he 
could assure him that the enemy were still 
there. So the project was abandoned, and the 
skirmishers did not go to press that day. 

On tbe 14th the pickets were relieved by a 
detachment from the Second Brigade, who had 
to run tbe gauntlet of the rebel batteries in get- 
ting to us. We soon after joineil the regiment, 
and that night, shortly after dark, we com- 
nieni-ed moving towards Spotsylvania Oouit 
House. The distance we travelled was only 
about seven miies, but we did not arrive there 
till after daybreak. A great part of tae way 
we marched through bye-roaiis, heavily wood- 
ed with thick growths of pines, and I do not 
think we ever encountered such blackness of 
darkness on any march before. It had rained 
heavily, at intervals, for several days past, but 
as long as we kept on the high grounds the 
roads gave us no trouble. The moment we 
struck the lowlands of the Po, we sank into the 
mud over ankle deep. One stream we had to 
wade. We arrived in front of Spotsylvania 
Court House early in the morning, and found 
the rebels alieady entrenched. During the 
whole of this day we rested, but were much 
exposed to the tire of the enemy's artillery. 

By the 16th the weather had cleared up and 
the sua came out bright and warm. At night 
we moved abouta mile further to the front and 
left, closer to the rebel lines, and threw up 
breastworks. The moon shone brightly, and 
we worked with a good will, as men usually' 
<lo when they want protection in anticipition 
of a tight, 'fo our rear a heavy battery was 
planted, and the next morning a spirited artil- 
lery duel was carried on over our heads. There 
was also sharp skirmishing on the picket lines. 
We remained there without any important 
change of position until the 21st. In the mean- 
time the pickets had grown friendly and began 
to exchange newspapers. No lighting of im- 
portance occurred here except the attack made 
upon our extreme right, and which was suc- 
cessfully rejiulsed. 

On the morning of the 21st we commenced 
withdrawing from the front, in full sight of the 
enemy who stood upon thi'ir works Avitnessing 
the operation. We had not proceeded far be- 
fore their skirmishers followed up and com- 
menced tiring. A part of the Sixth Corps had 
been left on the road, about a mile to tho rear 
of our works, and as soon as the rebpl skir- 
mishers came up they drove tlietn back. We 
continued the march, and, in the afternoon, ar- 
rived at Guinney's Station on the Riclimond 
and Fredericksburgh railroad. We soon after 
crossed the Ta (or the Ny,) and continued the 
march towards the west, until some time after 



dark. This was number three in our series of 
grand flank movements, and was the largest 
swing we had yet taken. It did not seem, when 
we halted, that we were ten miles, as a crow 
would fly, from where we started, and yet we 
had probably marched twenty. It was, in fact, 
a swing around into the enemy's rear, and was 
the cause, as we shall see hereafter, of his 
double quicking back to the North Anna, lest 
wi should get between him and Richmond. 
After supper pickets were sent to the front, 
and the enemy discovered to be in the vicinity. 

A Iter breakfast the next morning, we marched 
out and formed line where the picket line had 
been established. During the day it was repor- 
ted that the enemy were in full retreat toward 
Richmond (the result of our flank movement) 
along the pike a few miles ahead. Their wag- 
on trains were said to be on the run, and what 
force they had in our front were probably post- 
ed there for the purpose of guarding their pas- 
sage over the road. In the afternoon we moved 
forward and overtook them at what we were 
told was called Pole Cat Creek. They had 
some cavalry and a battery posted in the woods 
on a hill, prepared to dispute our advance. 
The Sixteenth was pushed forward along the 
road leading up the hill, followed by tbe 
Eighty-Third, Avhile the F. rty Fourth, the 
Twentieth, the Eighteenth and Hundred-and- 
Eighteenth were moved out through the flelds 
to attack them on the left flank. As soon as 
we" came in sight they opened on us with the 
battery and with sharp musketry from their 
skirmishers. The Sixteenth lost several killed 
and wounded. They pushed forward, howev- 
er, and drove the enemy out of the woods on 
the brow of tbe hill, and at the same time the 
flank movement of the other regiments of the 
brigade compelled their whole force to with- 
draw on the double quick. In their flight they 
had taken a bye-road leading ofl" to the right, 
over which we did not think it necessary to 
follow. As we were marching along, about a 
mile beyond the scene of action, they suddenly 
opened on us from this bye-road and wounded 
two men in the Eighty-third and several in 
the Forty-Fourth. Gen. Griffin immediately 
ordered a batterv of Parrott guns to be un- 
limbered, and they soon si-nt the shells into 
them with such precision that they made ott' 
and were not heard from again that day. 
Having gone a couple of miles further, the rest 
of the corps went into camp, and the Eighty- 
Third marched out on a road leading into the 
woods where the rebels had disappeared, in 
order to watch their movements in that direc- 
tion. Having thrown out flankers, we marched 
out about a mile, came to a halt and remained 
an hour. We saw nothing of the enemy. 
Having fulfilled our orders we came back to 
the brigade and went into bivouack for the 
night. 

On the 23d we reached the North Anna, at 
Jericho Ford, and at once commenced crossing. 
Several batteries had been planted on the 
bluffs, under cover of which we were to cross, 
in ease the enemy attempted to dispute our 
passage. Col. Sweitzer's brigade preceeded us, 
and, having gained the opposite shore, marched 
into a body of woods about three quarters of a 
mile from the river, and threw up breai«tworks 
in order to repel any attempt of the enemy to 
prevent our crossing. The banks at this ford 
are very high, and rocky, and the descent to 
the river was by a narrow, steep road. The 
men got over slowly and climbed up the bluffs 



100 



Judson's History of 



ou the other side and then sat down to rest and 
dry themselves. In the meiintime the engi- 
neers were busily engaged in throwing a bridge 
over the river in order to expedite the passage 
of troops and artillery, for it was expected that 
the rebels would soon attack us in force. 

The enemy had crossed at a ford a few miles 
higher up and were already coming down to- 
wards us, but had not yet shown themselves in 
omr front. We lay there some two or three 
hours, during which most of the corps effected 
a crossing. Towards evening ra^iid and sharp 
musketry was heard in the direction of Sweit- 
zer's brigade. The enemy had made a sudden 
and vigorous attack, with the intention of 
driving us all down the bluflf into the river. 
Had they succeeded in breaking Sweitzer's 
lines they would probably have caused a per- 
fect rout ; and, even as it was, a great many 
skedaddlers commenced running down the 
bluff and making their way across the stream. 
But Sweitzer and his brigade held them at bay, 
and in the meantime the Third Brigade went 
forward on the run to reinforce him. We ar- 
rived there just in time to prevent his being 
flanked by a brigade of rebels under command 
of a Col. Brown, who were making their way 
through the woods, and coming in upon his 
right and rear. We wore marching by the 
flank, and on the run, and, as we entered the 
woods, we met Sweitzer, accompanied by his 
brave little color bearer, coming at a full gallop 
and looking as fiery as a comet. We hardly 
knew where we were to go, or what we were to 
do, and amidst the roar of battle it was difficult 
to hear his orders. He finally succeeded in 
making us understand that the rebels were 
coming down on his flank, and for us to swing 
into line and march by the front to our position 
on his right. With a great deal of difficulty the 
regiment was swung around and marched in 
line of battle for fifteen or twenty rods, when 
some one else again gave the command to 
march by the flank. By the flank we went 
again on the full run, and had just reached the 
right of Sweitzer's line when the rebel brigade 
made their appearance, marchmg also by the 
flank. Here, then, was the unusual spectacle 
of two brigades coming at each other headfirst. 
Simultaneously the Eighty-Third and the 
leading regiment of the rebel brigade pitched 
into each other, like two rams, and the Eighty- 
Third proved to have the hardest head of the 
two. We smashed in their flank at one 
blow, and this threw the rest of their brigade 
into such a panic that they turned and fled 
without firing over a dozen shots. Corporal 
Corbin, of company B, made a dash for the 
rebel commander, seized him by the collar and 
bore him off a prisoner,* We immediately 
swung into line again and, having formed con- 
nection with Sweitzer's brigade, commenced 
firing into the woods upon the retreating ene- 
my. In the meantime another brigade (I be- 
lieve it was the Iron Brigade) of our corps, 
supported by a battery, had formed in the open 
field on our right, and commenced pouring a 
raking cross fire upon the enemy in their front. 
The firing continued till dark, and the enemy 
were everywhere driven from the field. 

I should have stated at first that the Eighty- 
Third and the Sixteenth were the only two 
regiments of our brigade which came to the sup- 



» The capture of the rebel Colouel is a matter of 
dispute between Corporal Corbin and Jean Brown, 
a little Freachmaa of Co, C. 



port of Col. Sweitzer on that part of the field ; and 
that the rest of the brigade were ordered to sup- 
port his left. There can be no doubt but that 
Sweitzer's gallantry saved the corps from a dis- 
raceful rout ; nor can there be any doubt but 
that the Eighty-Third and the Sixteenth saved 
Sweitzer. In five minutes more they would 
have attacked his flank and rear, and every 
one knows that a body of troops will not stand 
a fire from the front, flank and rear at one and 
the same time. At night the rest of the corps 
took position on our right and threw up breast- 
works. The next morning found us prepared 
for any number that might come against us. 
The attacking force belonged to Hill's corps. I 
never understood what were the losses, but I do 
not think they were very heavy on either side, 
considering the amount of firing that took 
place. The Eighty-Third lost none killed and 
but two or three wounded. The musket firing 
was about as severe and continuous as I had 
ever heard. But it is probable that ten times 
as much ammunition was thrown away on this 
occasion as there was any need of. Having 
soon repulsed the rebels our troops continued 
firing a long time after they had disappeared ; 
evidently being determined that if they re- 
newed the attack they should do it amidst a 
shower of bullets. Such kind of fighting is of 
frequent occurrence during the operations of a 
campaign, I afterwards learned that during 
the first mouth of Grant's campaign our divis- 
ion alone — averaging perhaps eight thousand 
muskets — expended one million of cartridgas. 
How many rebels they killed or maimed within 
that time, I am not prepared to say. But I am 
confident it was not a million, for we found a 
few more left of the same sort before our arri- 
val at the ancient and venerable city of Peter 
on the 18th of June following. 

When the morning came no enemy were to 
be seen in our front. The day was spent in re- 
connoitering their position, and they were 
found to have withdrawn several miles further 
down the river, to what was called Noell's sta- 
tion, on the Virginia central railroad, and there 
entrenched themselves. Towards evening we 
moved out in that direction, but we had not 
proceeded half a mile when a terrific storm 
arose, and, as it was nearly dark, the columns 
were halted and ordered to go into bivouack. 

On the 25th we moved down along the line of 
the railroad towards the enemy's works at 
Noell's station. Their picket line was encoun- 
tered about half a mile from their intreuch- 
ments, which extended from the North Anna 
to Little River, running at right angles to the 
railroad. We moved through a heavy body of 
woods to the front, and commenced throwing 
up works. We found the enemy posted about 
three-quarters of a mile ahead, having a sweep, 
for that whole distance, over a level plain, with 
their artillery. It was not our intention, how- 
ever, to make an attack at this point. We 
threw up works merely for self protection in 
case the rebels attacked us, and in order to 
cover ourselves from their sharpshooters who 
wer.j very active and hostile. We lay here two 
days, and during the time we had several men 
dangerously wounded, among whom was 
Lieut. Gleason, of Co. F, who had been one of 
the best and most faithful soldiers in the regi- 
ment. He died shortly afterwards from the 
effects of his wound. During these two days a 
part of oitr division was engaged in tearing up 
the railroad, about five or six miles of which 
was destroyed. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



101 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



The fourth flank onovement. March to Cold Harbor. Affair at the Tolopotomy. Battle at 
Bethesda or Old Church. The fifth flank movement. March to the James. Grossing the River. 
March to Petersburgh. 



We are now about to execute the fourth and, 
so far, the longest in our series of grand flank 
movements. We were about to march from the 
North Anna to the Chiclvahominy, a distance 
of forty miles, at one sweep. This brought our 
lines to within ten or twelve miles of Richmond. 
Before Gen. Grant introduced this system of 
tactics into the Army of the Potomac, an over- 
land march to Richmond in face ot Lee's army 
had been denounced as impracticable, the arm 7 
having failed two or three times in the attempt. 
The process now appears to be a very simple 
one, since it has been made practicable by suc- 
cess : just as crossing the ocean was after a man 
had been found bold enough to make the at- 
tempt, and persevering enough to carry it 
through. To illustrate the principle to those 
who have never been to the wars and. know no- 
thing about the movements of an army, let us 
suppose the armies of Grant and Lee to be drawn 
up, by corps, in line of battle opposite each 
other, with Richmond as the objective point. 
Now, as I have stated, suppose Richmond to be 
the object aimed at, and that it lies tifty miles 
ahead by due course of road. Lee, of course, 
would keep his line of battle at right angles to 
the road, throw up breastworks and tell Grant 
to come on. If Grant attempted to walk direct- 
ly over him, he would probably meet with a 
bloody repulse as often as be made the attempt. 
But suppose, instead, that ha should sieze the 
opportunity and swing aroung his whole army 
upon the right and rear of Lee, it is evident 
that Lee's tlank and rear, his baggage, supply 
and ammunition trains, his communications 
and the approaches to Richmond would be at 
Grant's mercy; for no army dare expose its 
tlank and rear to the attack of an opposing force. 
In doing so it would become utterly routed and 
demoralized in a very short time. Moreover it 
would be letting Grant get between him and 
Richmond, and consequently he is compelled 
to fall back as many miles as Grant's army may 
choose to march, and to again form line of 
battle across the road leading to the principal 
object of defence. Or if Grant lound it practica- 
ble to swing around but one corps at a time, 
that is, to move liis right wing to the left, it still 
leaves the enemy's right wing exposed to the 
attack of a heavy force, and he would be com- 
pelled to move his left wing to his right in order 
to meet the emergency. And so by this system 
of doubling and undoubling, an army might 
llank-raarch it from the Potomac to the Sabine, 
in the face of an enemy, without a single battle, 
unless one or the other saw tit to make the at- 
tack. In this way. Gen. Sherman inarched 
from Mission Ki^ige to Atlanta, in face of Joe 
Johnston's army, with but few serious battles 
The day we swung around from Spotsylvania 



Court House to the North Anna, we made so 
long a march and got so far in the rear of Lee's 
army, that he was compelled to tall back in the 
greatest haste to prevent our getting between 
him and the rebel capital. And it was probably 
this haste which gave rise to the report at the 
time, that the rebels were in full retreat upon 
Richmond. 

At dark we withdrew and crossed tlie North 
Anna, whose dashing waters roared among the 
rocks at our feet, and whose picturesque bluffs 
frowned above us in the darkness of the night. 
Up the high hills on the opposite shore, covered 
with deep and gloomy forests, we steadily 
clambered, and, on reaching the top, sat down 
for an hour's rest and then resumed our march. 
The sun broke ujion us the next morning from 
a clear, warm sky, and we moved on briskly. 
We knew not whither we were going, but we 
felt tliat we were moving away from the pres- 
ence of the enemy, and out of the hearing of the 
sound of battle. For twenty-two days we had 
been more or less under fire, and there was a 
sensible relief in thinking that we were to have 
one day's rest from that wear and tear of both 
mind and body which soldiers always experi- 
ence when exposed constantly to the danger's 
and excitements of an active campaign. Our 
march was through a finely cultivated country, 
and one which had never yet echoed to the 
tramp of hostile armies or been visited by the 
desolations of war. A little before sundown we 
arrived within eight miles of the Pamunkey, 
on the road leading to Hanover Town, and en- 
camped in a pine grove thickly carpeted with 
dry leaves. After partaking of our coffee and 
hard-tack and solacing ourselves, as was our 
custotn, with a few fragrant puffs of the virgin 
leaf, we spread our blankets and laid down to 
sleep, beneath a mild clear sky, without a picket 
or a guard, or an apprehension of danger from 
any quarter. It was the first rest of body and 
mind we had had for over three weeks. 

On the morning of the 28th we continued our 
march towards the Pamunke3^ A number of 
rebel cavah-y scouts were captured by our cav- 
alry advance before reaching the river. The 
pontoons had been pushed forward, and by the 
time we reached the river the stream was bridg- 
ed and we passed over. The column moved on 
about two miles, halted and threw up breast- 
works in order to cover the passage of other 
corps which were to cross over at that point. 
Lee had the inside track, and he had kept on a 
parallel with our line of march ; if, indeed, he 
who describes the segment, can be said to move 
on a line parallel to him who describes the are, of 
a circle. His advance was already found by 
the cavalry to be but a few miles in front. Dur- 
ing the day and night the entire army had cross- 



102 



Judson's History of 



ed over and formed line of battle. The next 
day we moved forward and commenced feelinia; 
the enemy's position. Frequent and heavy 
skirmishes tooli place with his advance. The 
next morning we pushed still farther on, after 
having crossed the Tolopotoniy and fought all 
the way, and found the rebel army intrenched 
in line of battle extending from a point some 
distance above Bethesda Church to the vicinity 
of Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, and covering 
the approaches to Richmond. In this day's light- 
ing the Eighty-Third had several men wound- 
ed. Among ihe officers wounded, belonging to 
the brigade, was Capt. Nash of the Forty- 
Fourth. Major Elliott, commanding the Six- 
teenth, was also wounded mortally while the 
brigade was lying in a dangerous position, ex- 
posed to a cross tire of the enemy's sharp shoot- 
ers. At dark we w^ere withdrawn from this 
unpleasant proximity and moved a quarter of 
a mile to the left, into a piece of -wootis, where 
we rested without further annoyance until the 
next morning. , 

When morning came we moved across the 
road, took possession of a line of temporary 
breastworks, which some of our troops had just 
left, and remained till the afternoon of the m-xt 
day, June first. On the morning of this day 
the Sixteenth had been sent out to the front as 
skirmishers and had had sharp fighting with the 
skirmishers of the enemy. The distance from 
our lines at this point to the rebel works whs 
about three quarters of a mile. Between us 
was a heavy piece of woods and a small marshy 
stream. Just beyond the stream was a rise of 
ground from which our men had driven the 
rebels and the possession of which they were 
still hotly disputing. As it was a part of Gen. 
Grant's tactics to push up as closely as possible 
to the enemy's lines, we were ordered forward 
to take position on this rise of ground, immedi- 
ately under fire of their artillery and sharp- 
shooters. We made a circuit of "a mile and a 
half in getting around the swamp. On arriving 
at the spot we got into line, commenced felling 
trees and throwing up works. As we formed 
line about halfway up the rise, our movements 
were partly concealed from the enemy's obser- 
vation. But they soon discovered the move- 
ment and attempted to frustrate it. They did 
not venture to come out of their works and 
charge across the field, but commenced throw- 
ing a body of troops, a few at a time, into a 
bushy ravine which led from their works di- 
agonally towards ours. For a long time this 
movement was not discovered. In our imme- 
diate front the Thirty- Ninth Mass. were posted 
as skirmishers. They soon found that the rebel 
skirmishers were growing too heavy for their 
line. They were beKinning to fall back under 
the pressure, and sent down to the Eighty 
Third for reinforcements. About a dozen men, 
headed by Serjeants Zuver, of companv A., and 
Moore of company C, at once volunteered and 
went to the front. The firing began now to 
grow more animated. These men soon discov- 
ered that the enemy were reinforcing their line, 
under cover of the "ravine ; and, having caught 
sight of a battle flag waving amoug the bushes, 
suspected that they were getting ready for a 
sudden charge over the hill. Their object un- 
doubtedly was to drive us into the swamp be- 
fore reinforcements could come to our aid. 
Every moment the firing became hotter and 
hotter, but the men stood their ground. The 
brigade, all this while, was busily engaged in 
throwing up their breastworks, and had got 



everything in readiness to administer to the 
rebels one of those " blessings in disguise" 
should they come upon us. At last the enemy 
advanced and drove in our skirmishers. But 
they had no sooner appeared on the brow of 
the hill than they received such a volley assent 
them i-eeling to the rear. The Forty-Fourth on 
our right, and the sixteenth on our left, were 
so posted that they had a better range on the 
enemy than the Eighty-Third, and" probably 
did the most execution." The rebels advanced, 
however, and took possession of the skirmish- 
ers' rifle pits and from behind them kept up a 
sharp tiring until after dark. Befo-e midnight 
they withdrew and our pickets again took up 
their old position. 

The amount of firing on this occasion was, 
for a small affair, perfectly tremendous. Along 
the line of the whole brigade there was, for the 
space of half an hour, a vivid sheet of flame; 
and so continuous was the rattle of musketry 
that it sounded at a distance as if a terrible bat- 
tle was in progress. Reinforcements came 
pouring in upon the double quick, and swiftly 
forming in the ranks of war, they rushed up to 
the support of our men and made ready to as- 
sist in repelling the murderous assaults of the 
enemy. I dislike very much to strip the ro- 
mance from an affair that redounded so much 
to the glory of our arms; but a sacred respect to 
the truth of history compels me to declare my 
belief, that at least nine-tenths of the cartridges 
fired on this occasion were thrown away upon 
theincorp(Mealair. The Eighty Third had only 
two or three wounded, and these were among 
the skirmishers who went to the front, in the 
early part of the fight. I heard of no casualties 
in the brigade. The enemy sent no flag of truce 
afterwards to ask the privilege of burying their 
dead. Thej' probably had but few or no dead 
to bury. In fact it was just such another affair 
as happened at the North Anna. The first one 
or two volleys had checked th^ir advance, and 
after that the firing was all for buncombe. 

I am somewhat at a loss for a name to bestow 
upon this hard fought battle, as neither the 
name nor the affair itself has ever found a pla<;e 
in the official reports of the campaigns aroitnd 
Cold Harbor. But as it was fought on the banks 
of that romantic marsh whose stream isa tribu- 
tary of the historical Tolopotomai, (or as it ia 
less correctly called, the Tolopotomy), I have 
thought it best to let it assume the name of the 
parent stream, and to record it under the Great 
Battle of the Tolopotomy. 

We were now about to contract our lines, as a 
preliminary step towards another grand flank 
movement. Heavy fighting had taken placeon 
the left, in the vicinity of Cold Harbor, during 
this day, but these battles it is not our province 
to describe. The lines of the two armies ran in 
a Northwesterly and Southeasterly direction. 
The Second, Sixth and Eighteenth corps occu- 
pied ttie centre and left, and the Fifth and Ninth 
the right of the line. Burnsides' corps joined 
us on the right, forming a right angle at the 
point of intersection and extended in a Norther- 
ly direction, thus covering the right fiank of 
the army. The plan was to withdraw both of 
these corps towards Cold Idarbor, nearer to the 
Chickahominy and its crossings, so as to be 
ready to execute a quick and rapid march to 
the James, whenever Gen. Grant should be 
ready to order the movement. On the morning 
of the 2d both corps accordingly commenced 
withdrawing from their works. "The corps of 
the rebel Gen. Hill was in our front, watching 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



103 



closely the operation. They were determined 
this time to arrest our flank movement by at- 
tacking our troops as they were falling back, 
and putting them to rout. "We had scarcely 
reached Bethesda Church, about a mile distant, 
when they commenced i'ollowing up, yelling 
and firing as they came. Our men began to 
form line for the attack. At that moment a 
territic thunder storm came up, lasting lor an 
hour, and putting an end, ior the time, to any 
further fighting. But as soon as the storm ceas- 
ed the rebels again commenced the attack. It 
must be acknowledged that our men were in no 
humor at that time for a fight, as indeed no 
troops are when they are falling back from an 
enemy's front. For the first time in its history 
the Eighty-Third showed symptoms of a panic, 
and a number of the men ran to the rear. Tbe 
most of them, however, stood their ground. 
The rebels, in the meantime, began to advance 
in force. They were encountered by the troops 
of both corps and, after a severe fight, were 
driven back. The battle lasted all day. The 
Eighty-Third were not called upon to take an 
active part in the battle, but they were during 
the whole time under a heavy fire, and lost 
several killed and wounded. '• he brigade was 
compelled at one time to double quick to a part 
of the field where the enemy were threatening 
to break through, and by their timely arrival 
on the ground prevented that di-<aster. During 
the whole of the battle the rebels kept up an 
enfiladina: tire from their batteries on the Me- 
chanicsville road, generHlly directing their shells 
over a body of intervening woods, toward the 
troops who were stationed at the churck. The 
two corps, having repulsed the enemy, formed 
anew line, threw up works, planted heavy 
batteries, and tbe next morning were ready for 
another attack. The enemy, however, made no 
attack. We remained till the night of the 5th 
when we again withdrew, the Ninth corps tak- 
ing the advance. 

For some reason the Fifth corps did not get 
started till morning, and during the whole 
night we laid in the open fields n^ar the church 
awaiting the order to move. Fin.ally, when 
daylight came, we got under headway, and 
marched about five miles, to Allen's Mills, in 
the vicinity of C«ld Harbor. Here we did picket 
duty till the next day, when we moved four 
miles further towards the Chickahoiriiny, and 
on the 8th we joined the rest of the brigade, not 
far from Sumner's bridge. The whole corps 
had now withdrawn from the front and were 
lying in reserve. We remained here till the 
12th, doing nothing but picket duty along the 
Vianksofihe Chickahominy. From the battle 
of the Wilderness to the Sth of June was thirty 
five days, thirty of which had been spent more 
or less in fighting. From the Sth to the 12th we 
enjoyed a season of rest. 

On the night of the 12th we started out on our 
filth grand flank movement. Havingmarched 
till within an hour of daylight we went into 
bivouatik about a mile from the Chickahominy 
at Long Bridge. Early in the morning we cross 
ed over on pontoons, and pushed on towards 
White Oak Swamp. Lee, as usual, kept pace 
with us on the other side of the swamp, march- 
ingon aparallel line between us and Ri<rhmond. 
On arriving at the swamp we were halted and 
the Penn. Reserves were sent ahead and had 
some fighting with the enemy, who attempted 
to force a passage over one of the roads leading 
through it. The rebels were driven back. When 



dark came we resumed the march, and late at 
night we went into bivouac beyond Charles City 
Cross roads. The next morning, we moved on, 
and in a few hours we reached Charles City 
Court House where our hearts were once more 
gladdened at the sight of the majestic river 
James. 

The long wished for goal of our pilgrimage 
had at last been attained. For six weeks we 
had been wandering among the wilds of "Vir- 
ginia, shut off from intercourse with the rest of 
the world. "If we can only get to the James, 
we will be all right," was the universal expres- 
sion of the soldiers. I had often read of the joy 
manifested by the ten thousand Greeks under 
Xenophon after their long wanderings through 
the wilds of Asia, when the dark waters of the 
Euxine first broke upon their delighted visions, 
but I never knew how to realize that feeling 
until now. Even the whistle of a locomotive 
brings (ilelight to the heart of a soldier after a 
long campaign amidst the wilds of an enemy's 
country ; but the sight of the ocean or a river 
lifts him out ot the depths of melancholy and 
inspires him Avith new vigor and new life. 

After an hour for rest and coffee we pushed 
on to Wilcox's Landing, a few miles further 
up, where we were to embark on board of 
steam transports for the south side of the 
James. The Second Corps had preceded us 
and thrown uj) works for the purpose of cover- 
ing the eml)arkation. We marched into their 
works and remained there until they had com- 
pleted their crossing. The Sixth and Ninth 
Corps crossed a few miles further down the riv- 
er. Lee had inarched his army to Malvern 
Hill and entreijched himself in expectation of 
our advance in that direction. Gen. Smith had 
previously shipped his corps at White House 
Landing, on tbe Pamunkey, returned to Ber- 
muda Hundred and got in' readiness to take 
the initiatory step to a general assault upon 
Petersburgh. On the 16th we crossed over, be- 
ing the last of the army, and immediately 
pushed on towards that city. Gen. Smith bad 
already opened the ball, arid ere the word for- 
ward could be given to the troops the roar of 
his cannon was heard in the distance. We 
pushed on through heat and dust, and, after a 
march of twenty miles, arrived at midnight 
within two miles of the city and laid down to 
rest. Gen. Smith had assaulted and carried the 
outer fortifications. Gen. Lee was also on his 
way and ere we could arrive Peter Beauregard 
had flown to the rescue of his beloved citv of 
Petersburgh. 

In making this fifth and last flank move- 
ment, we had described the arc of a circle and 
made a march of over fifty miles. In fact, all 
our marches h:id been of this character, and 
Lee had constantly had the inside track. Be- 
fore crossing the .James he had sent forward 
Peter Beauregard with his corps, in anticipa- 
tion of Gen. Smith's movement on Petersburgh, 
and Peter hud arrived in time to prevent the 
capture of the city. Before his arrival the place 
was jiarrisoned by .several thou.sand troops 
under the command of that " powerful old he- 
ro' of Eastern Virginia," Brigadier General 
Henry Albert Wise. The outer works were 
wrested from Wise's troops, and proved to be 
the finest specimen of engineering skill we had 
yet seen, and the most formidable of any that 
the army had yet encountered. 



104 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Battles of the 18th. The Siege of Petershurgh. The Explosion of the Mine, and the Battle of 
July 'iOth. Incidents of the Siege. Battles on the Weldon Railroad. JEx2nrafio7i of the term of 
Service of the Original Men of the Eighty- Third, and their return Home. 



After the capture of what we have termed 
their outer works, the rebels had fallen buck 
towards the city and comoaeuced a new line of 
fortilications, which they eventuallj'^ extended 
from the Appomattox on the north of Peters- 
burgh to the Weldon Railroad on the south : 
thus girdling the place with a wall of earth- 
works. In the meantime our tfoops continued 
to press them, but as they had force enough on 
the ground to make a strong leaistance, they 
succeeded in holding our army long enough at 
bay to enable them to complete their works. 
To do this, twenty-four hours were sufficient. 
On the 17th severe tighting o3curred between 
Burnside and the enemy without any decided 
result to our troops. On the morning of the 
18th he made a charge upon their advanced ri- 
fle pits and, after a tierce struggle, drove them 
out with heavy loss. I afterwards counted 
over fifty rebel dead lying within a space 
thirty yards in length. In several instances 
they were lying one upon the other. On the 
morning ol this day the Fifth Corps moved to 
the front, and were soon engaged with the ene- 
my. They had principally fallen back to their 
works, and a'* we approached they poured in a 
heavy fire of both artillery and musketry. 
Some divisions of the corps lost heavily, in 
that portion of the field where our division ad- 
vanced, the ground was rolling and timbered, 
and kept our movements partly concealed. 
But it did not protect us from their heavy 
firing. Our brigade had formed line in these 
Avoods, not over eighty rods from their works, 
and was about to move forward, when they 
commenced a furious canuDnading and threw a 
large number of shells into the ranks of the 
Eighty-Third with the most remarkable pre- 
cision and effect. Several exploded in our 
very midst, tearing the men almost into frag- 
ments. We pressed forward, however, until 
we had cleared the woods and come out into an 
open field, and there, having been ordered to 
halt, we commenced throwing up the earth as 
a protection against the enemy's cannonading. 
During this time, Sweitzer's Brigade, on our 
right, iiad pushed ahead and gained a position 
close up to the enemy's lines, and under a 
heavy fire of musketry. The First Brigade— a 
new brigade which had lately been organized 
and placed under command of Col. Chamber- 
lain of the Twentieth Me. — operated upon our 
left. We remained in this position for a few 
hours, when we were marched by the flauk 
down the road leading to the enemy''' li'ie. 
then down into a ravine through which the 
Norfolk railroad ran, and then up the hill to 
within two or three hundred yards of the same 
fort that had poured in such a deadly fire upon 
our ranks. We did not venture to the top of 
the hill, however, but remained under cover 



until darkness should give us an opportunity 
to prosecvite further operations. 

As soon as night catne we inoved to the top 
of the hill and, having formed connection with 
the Fourth Division of our corjis on the left, 
commenced throwing up breastworks. We 
were now within pistol shot of the enemy, but 
I hey either did not discover us or else did not 
choose to prevent our operations. When morn- 
ing came they found a line of works in iheir 
front stretching from the Appomattox nearly 
to the Jerusalem Plank Road, on the east of the 
city. This was another of Gen. Grant'sfamous 
hugs. As the opposing lines were very hostile, 
it was unsafe for the men on either side to show 
their heads above the works. Sharpshooting 
commenced early in the morning and, through- 
out the day, ati'orded a great deal of amuse- 
ment to our men. One of them would put his 
cap upon the muzzle of his gun and cautiously 
raise it above the parapet, and as soon as th© 
rebels i-aised up to fire at it, several of our 
sharpshooters, with muskets already pointed, 
would pour a broadside into them, causing 
them to drop their heads suddenly, to the great 
merriment of the rest of the regiment. Strate- 
gy of this kind was practised on both sides and 
sometimes Avith success. In spite of the pro- 
tection afforded by our works, the Eighty- 
Third lost upon this da}'' (the 19th) one killed 
and tliree wounded. The rebels shelled us 
several times and our batteries replied briskly. 
But as we always hugged our works closelv 
upon such occasions, we sustained no damage. 
The loss throughoiit the brigade was consider- 
able, but it was principallj'^ from their sharp- 
shooters. On the 20th, we" had two killed and 
four or five wounded. 

This position vr ns the nearest to the enemy of 
any other portion of our whole line and was 
close by the spot wliere Gen. Burnside after- 
wards blew up their fort. Their proximity 
kept the two lines in a state of constant hostili- 
ty. For weeks and months afterwards the 
never ceasing rattle of musketry was to be 
heard at this spot, by day and by niglit, even 
after peace had been declared in every other 
part of the lines. When the regiment left for 
home they were still at it, and I presume it was 
kept up until the rebels were finally driven 
out of Petersburgh. 

On the night of the 20th our division was 
relieved by a division of the Ninth Corps, and 
we marched half a mile to the rear and bivou- 
acked, preparatory to a movement to the ex- 
treme loft of the line on the next day. On the 
21st we moved around into the woods, near the 
Jerusalem Planlc Road, and at night pushed 
the lines to within five hundred yards of the 
enemy's works and commenced digging. The 
Sixteenth, Twentieth, Eighteenth and the Hun- 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



105 



dred and-Kighteenth formed the tVout, and the 
Ei)^bty-Third and Forty-Fourth, the rear 
line. On the left of our division were ihe 
PennHvlvania Reserves. jioyond tbem the 
Second and .Sixth Corps had taken a position, 
but not for the purpose of holding it. On the 
immediate left of our brigade was the new 
Fir«t Brigade, and on its left was thrown up a 
heavy work known afterwards as Fort Hell. 
The pickets in front of our new position were 
very hostile and the skirmishing between them 
WHS constant and uninterrupted, both day and 
night. On tlie tirst day, several of our pickets 
v\cre wounded and, not being able to get to the 
rear, without beii.g shot down, were compelled 
to remain all day beneath a scorching sun, 
without shelter from the intense heat and with- 
out water, until night atforded them an oppor- 
tunity to come in. Several of these men be- 
longed to the Eighty-Third and afterwards died 
froin exhaustion. The bullets aimed at them 
fell into our midst, at the rear, and every &aj 
men were wounded V>y these chance shot--. On 
the night of the 27th the Eigbty-Third and 
Forty- Fourth moved to the front and filled up 
a gap between the left of the Sixteenth and the 
rijiht of the First Brigade, and commenced 
t]i.'owing up strong and heavy works. Our 
new lines now directly ficed the rebel works 
which were about five hundred yards distant. 
And between the two breastworks were posted 
the picket lines of both armies. 

The tirst week was busily spent in strength- 
ening and completing the works and in clearing 
otr the ground for tne purpose of improving 
the health and cleanliness of the camp. The 
breastworks were from ten to twelve (eet in 
thickness, ami under them bomb-proofs were 
constructed for shelter in case of a shelling from 
tlie mortar batteries of the enemy. Bomb- 
prooi's were also waade for the officers, whose 
quarters were not so close to the breastworks, 
and wiio were in danger of being blown into 
the air at any moment the rebels should see 
l)roper to drop a bomb shell over into our 
midst. The proofs were constructed as follows: 
A hole was dug into the ground iJi the shape of 
a cellar, say four feet deep and eight or ten 
feet square. Blocks, cut from pine trees, 
H foot in thickness, were placed as up- 
rights at the corners of the excavations 
and upon these pine logs were laid, com- 
pletely covering the cellar. Dirt was then 
thrown uoon them and packed down until there 
was a covering of several feet of solid earth. 
In this manner thousands of bomb proofs were 
built along the whole line of both armies. They 
were mucn cooler than tents and sheltered us 
from the hot rays of the sun as well as from the 
shells ot the enemy. Some such protection as 
this becomes an absolute necessity in time of a 
siege where two hostile armies lay so close to- 
gether: for there is scarcely a day but that one 
or both are practising at gunnery or throwing 
mortar shells at each other. The only thing 
they did not effectually shelter us from was 
the rain. 

At the time of taking this position the hostil- 
ity of the pickets had begun to slacken, and in 
a few days more the firing in front liad entirely 
ceased. Our men were now at liberty to sit or 
move about upon the parapets without any 
danger, and the rebels also availed themselves 
of the same privilege. As time passed on the 
pickets became remarkably friendly and cour- 
teous towards each other. One incident will 
serve to illustrate the fa.ct that though men may 



war with each other for an idea, they are at 
heart very good friends after all. There was a 
tree, in a small hollow about halfway between 
the two lines, where the rebels had been in the 
habit of posting their videttes in the evening, 
and withdrawing them again before daybreak. 
One evening our vidette gained the tree, his 
right to which the rebel soldier, who was ap- 
proaching the spot to take his post, quietly 
yielded. And there they stood all night, with- 
in a few yards of each other, and would doubt- 
less have engaged in friendly conversation had 
not military etiquette forbidden such inter- 
course. The next night the rebels gained th« 
tree, to which pit. occupation our men readily 
acquiesed, and so t.'-e the thing ran f(n- weeks. 

It was during tnis interval of coinparativ" 
quiet that the rebel soldiers began to desert and 
come over Intoourlinesatnight. Infournights 
seventy-four came into our brigade alone. Still 
further to the left, where the Reserves lay, the 
chances for escape were more favorable and 
they came in greater numViers. In our front 
was the bricrade of Brigadier General Cesar 
Finnegan, (Phoebus, what a u'lTie!) of Olustee 
notoritv ; and seeing that Cesar s vnen hunger- 
ed more for peace and something good to eat 
than for mititarj' renown, we began to woo 
these temporarily estranged brethren of the 
south to our bosoms. We had a band ot musical 
geniuses in the Eighty-Third who used, in th« 
evening, to mount the parapets with flute, 
violin and guitar and play while the boys trip- 
ped the light tastastio toe. The deserters, who 
came in, st'.tod tl-.ai they couid distinctlj^ hear 
the music and tho calling off ; and, concluding 
that we were having a fine tin^e of it, thought 
they Avould come over and make us a visit. 

The stories of all these deserters were pretty 
much the same, and I do not think it necessary 
to repeat them here. But there was a deserter 
came in one night who gave expression to such 
enlarged views of the situation that I havo 
thought his remarks worth preserving. "Keep 
Grant and Sherman well reinloi-jd," said he, 
"and the confederacy is g.ine up a spout!" 

There wasa good deal of artib.nyand mortar 
practice along our front at times and it often 
resulted in loss to some portion of the brigade. 
Itwas what wecalled, however, peaceable times. 
The works along the whole line were being 
constantly strengthened by the addition ol new 
forts and batteries. Vast covered ways, rese-r.- 
blinijc canals, and running in every direction 
for the passage to ano Iroo: troops, artillery ard 
atnmunition were c>nstrr.cttd ; pits ior uioitar 
batteries were dug at intervals a.ong the whole 
line, and every preparat'im was nii^de for the 
grand canonade which was to come ff when 
Bnrnside should blow up the rebel tort and 
make an assault itpon their works in his front. 
We saw the work going on, liut did noi know 
what was intended until the fulness of time 
brought it to light. 

It had been forsome time rumored that Burn- 
side was undermining the rebel fort in his 
front, but, as the operations was conducted 
with secresy, these rumors were not confirmed 
until the mine was completed. 'Ihe same ru- 
mor seems also to have gained ciedit among 
the reljels, and at one time they became so 
alarmed at the prospect of being blown into 
the air, that the Petersburg papers sounded 
the cry that the whole city w.^s being under- 
mined, atid that they were treading on a volca- 
no. Geology finally came to their aid, and they 
consoled, themselves with the assurance that if 



106 



Judson's History of 



the Yankees were in fact undermining them, 
they would soon come to a species of mail (i 
think they call it,) which would prove an ef- 
fective barrier to any farther progress into the 
bowels of the earth. Under the soothing effects 
of this scientific assurance, they again folded 
their arms and relapsed into a state of quies- 
cence. The mine was finally completed, and 
on the night of the 2t)lh of July, at ten o'clock, 
word was sent around to every regiment to be 
up and under arms at three o'clock in the 
morning. The explosion was to take place at 
half-past three, and at that moment the pickets 
were to run in behind the works and com- 
mence firing, and every battery along the line, 
both artillery and mortar, was to open at the 
same time. The fort which had been mined 
was about three-quarters of a mile to our right 
and in full view. During the niglit a portion of 
Burnside's corps, including a division of col- 
ored troops, were moved into position so as to 
be ready to make the assault at the moment 
the explosion should take place. 

We were all up at the appointed time, for we 
were filled with curiosity to witness what 
promised to be the grandest spectacle of the 
whole war. Half-past three came, but no ex- 
plosion. Five, ten, twenty minutes passed, 
but no explosion yet. We were all upon the 
breastworks watching anxiously, when at last 
we beard a rum bling in the eai th, then an earth- 
quake and a tremendous roar, and in a mo- 
ment more we saw mixed volumes of smoke and 
dust rising from tbespot where stood the doom- 
ed fort. Men, artillery carriages, and all went 
heavenward with the explosion. The pickets 
camerunningin,and the rebels in our fro lit leap- 
ed upon their breastworks and gazed in wonder 
and awe upon what had taken place, not know- 
ing but that another moment would send tbem, 
too, whirling into eternity. In a moment more, 
as if all the artillery of heaven and earth com- 
bined had opened at once, five hundred cannon 
and mortars flashed forth in sheets of flame, 
and sent their fierj'^ messengers of death scream- 
ing and hissing through the air into the lines 
of the intrenched enemy. The rebels were so 
terrified and confounded for the space of half 
an hour that they hardly knew from what 
quarter to expect the next shock. They hugged 
their works so closely that only now and then 
could a portion of a man's head be seen peer- 
ing from the embrazures of their forts, appar- 
ently stationed there to give the alarm should 
an assault be made along the whole line. In 
the meantime, Burnside's men charged up the 
hill and over the ruins of the fort, drove the 
enemy out and pursued them into the woods 
beyond. They had clearly gained the field. 
More troops pressed forward and took posses- 
sion of the ground. Then was the time they 
should have been reinforced by picks and 
shovels as well as by muskets. Had they com- 
menced immediately to fortify and to convert 
the ruins into breastworks for their own de- 
fence, they might have held the field. But the 
time passed unimproved. The rebels gathered 
their forces for a charge, and, coming down 
upon them like an avalanche, drove them back 
and held the ground, and our men never re- 
gained possession of it afterwards. The ex- 
plosion was a disaster and a failure. 

On thel6lh of August the Fifth was relieved 
by portions of the Second and Ninth Corps, 
and withdrew half a mile to the rtar, prepara- 
tory to a descent on the Weldon Railroad. On 
the 18th we moved in that direction and, on 



approaching it, encountered a few cavalry 
pickets who fled and communicated the intelli- 
gence of our movement. The corps pressed 
forward and gained possession of the load at 
the Yellow House, six miles below Peters- 
burg. The enemy came out to meet us and, 
after a spirited engagement, were repulsed. On 
the 19th they made another and heavier attack, 
gained some advantage and captured, as they 
claimed, about two thousand prisoners. The 
fighting of this day was on the right of the 
corps, and the divisions engaged were the Sec- 
ond and Third. As neither the Eighty-Third, 
nor the Division to which it belonged, took an 
active part in the tight, I shall not attempt to 
describe it here. The battle for a while was 
very severe and the result doubtful, but the 
rebels were in the end repulsed and driven 
back through the woods into their own fortifi- 
cations. Our lines were now firmly estab- 
lished across the railroad and we commenced 
fortifying at once in order to render them se- 
cure. The Ninth Corps which took part in the 
action joined the Fifth Corps ou the right. 

But the rebels seemed still determined to re- 
gain possession of the road. Prisoners report- 
ed that Gen. Lee had said it must be retaken at 
all hazards. It was the principal road over 
which they obtained their supplies. From the 
18th to the 21st the time had Ijeen busily spent 
in intrenching and we were now ready for any 
force that might come against us. Their par- 
lial successes on the 19th had emboldened 
them, and they were now about to make their 
final effort for the repossession of the road. 

Our intrenchinents now extended from the 
Appomattox, on the north of Petersburg, to the 
Weldon railroad at the Yellow House, and run- 
ning through heavy bodies of timber a great 
portion of the way. The army resembled a 
huge serpent lying coiled around the defences 
of Petersburg, with its tail lapped around its 
chief artery of supply, and every now and then 
tightening its folds and giving the rebellion a 
more deadly hug. The Fifth Corps had drawn 
their works across the railroad and then down 
parallel with the track, at a distance of eighty 
rods from it, for the distance of half a mile, and 
there they ended abruptly. The rebels thought 
this was the extreme left of our lines, but in 
this they were mistaken. About sixty rods to 
the rear, and near to the railroad, another line 
of works was thrown up, extending half a mile 
still further down the road, and this line the 
rebels had not discovered. Behind these works 
the Eighty Third and the rest of the First Di- 
vision were posted. Directly in front of our 
brigade was a heavy body of woods, slashed 
and thickly grown with underbrush, rendering 
us secure from any attack in that quarter and 
leaving us at liberty to direct our tire upon the 
enemy should he attack our advance lines. 

On the morning of the 21st the enemy made 
the attack upon the right of the corps, under 
cover of a furious enfilading fire, which swept 
the entire line of our entrenchments. We had 
seldom been placed under a hotter artillery fire 
than this. The attack on the right was chiefly 
made as a feint to cover the assault which was 
to be made upon what they supposed to be our 
extreme left. In about an hour sharp piclcet 
firing was heard in our front, and shortly after 
our entire line of pickets came running in, after 
having lost several in killed, wounded and 
taken prisoners. As the woods were very 
dense the enemy had great ditficulty in getting 
through them in line of battle. Having at last 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



107 



worked their way out, they halted at the edge, 
under cover of a hill, reformed and advanced 
to the attack. 

They advanced in the most splendid order 
throu'^h the corntield which laid before them, 
and their heads could be just seen above the 
tall corn, with their red battle-flags waving 
over it. There was an universal expression of 
admiration among our men, not unmingled 
with a feeling of sympathy at the bold and de- 
voted manner in which that band of heroes 
moved forward to certain disaster and defeat. 
For a Jew moments after they hove in sight 
there was no tiring, every man being appa- 
rently absorbed in watching their movements. 
What a pity it was to spoil the proud hopes of 
such a band of brave fellows ! On they catne, 
their hearts beating high with bright anticipa- 
tions of victory ; but in a moment more they 
were all dashed to the gi ound. Sheets of flame 
leaped Irom the works in our front, and thous- 
ands of fiery minies went hissing into their 
ranks, while the Third Brigade, with well di- 
rected aim and the cross-fire of our artillery 
played upon them with terrible etfect. Stag- 
gered by the shock, they wavered for a mo- 
ment, as if surprised and confounded, and then 
throwing away their arms they rushed, with 
uplifted hands, towards our lines and called 
upon our men to cease firing. They had incon- 
tinently rushed into the very jaws of the trap. A 
few ran to the rear ; but the greater part rushed 
past the works and took refuge in a hollow whiuh 
was thickly filled with bushes and lying be- 
tween the two lines of entrenchments. We 
then had them between two fires and could 
have slaughtered them like sheep in the sham- 
bles, but our men instinctively forbore to again 
fire upon them after they had given this indi- 
cation of a surrender. Gen. Haygood, who 
commanded the rebel brigade, had also put 
spurs to his horse and galloped, like another 
Curtius, into the gulf betore him ; and we were 
certain that both he and his whole command 
had concluded to surrender themselves as pris- 
oners of war. 

But Gen. Haygood and his command, it ap- 
peared, entertained a ditferent opinion. They 
had not remained there ten minutes before 
they concluded to make a desperate attempt to 
effect their escape. The ravine, where they 
were, led directly into the woods from which 
they had come. Putting spurs to his horse, 
therefore, the chivalrous Haygood dashed out 



at a furious gallop and was followed by num- 
bers of his men on the run. In a moment a 
thousand builels went whizzing after them. 
Many were shot down before ihey reached the 
woods and Haygood was wounded, but he still 
clung to his horse and was borne off into the 
thickets and fairly escaped. Our batteries, at 
the same time, commenced throwing shells 
around their line of retreat so furiously, that 
the few rebels, who had gained the edge of the 
woods, found it impracticable to go any further 
and finally came back and delivered themselves 
up. Those who had the good sense to remain 
in the ravine were unharmed. The number of 
prisoners amounted to between three and four 
hundred, and their killed and wounded to pro- 
bably a hundred. This was the last attempt 
the rebels ever made to repossess themselves of 
the Weldon railroad. Their reasons for not 
doing so were probably owing to the fact that, 
after repeatedly failing in the attempt, they 
began to discover that the loss of the road was 
only a " bhssing in disguise " and that the pos- 
session of it was of no consequence after all. 

This was the last battle of the Eighty Third 
under the old organization. The time was now 
approaching when the officers and men, whose 
terms of service had expired, were to be mus- 
tered out and to return to tht^ir homes. As the 
last company of the regiment had been muster- 
ed into the service on the 8th of September, 
1861, the 7th of September, 1864, was the day on 
which the term of the regiment expired. The 
number remaining, who were to go, was about 
one hundred and seventy. Some were also 
absent, sick or wounded at the hospitals. Others 
had been, at different times, transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps and were also entitled 
to their discharges upon the same day. By the 
7th all the papers for transferring the remain- 
ing men to the new organization, for the mus- 
tering out of the officers and for the transpor- 
tation of the regiment to Washington were 
completed ; and on that day they took the steam- 
er at Ciry Point for Washington, under com- 
mand of Lieut.-Col. D. 0. McCoy, and in a few 
days arrived at Harrisburg. After remaining 
there two or three weeks, in order to finish up 
the muster-out rolls and receive their pay, they 
returned to their homes, after an absence of 
three years, and after having participated in 
all the" campaigns and most of the battles of the 
Army of the Potomac. 



108 



Judson's History of 



CHAPTER XXV. 



Reorganization of the Recjiment into a Battalion. Action at Peeble's Farm. Raid on the Weldon 
Railroad at Stony Station, Actio7is at Hatcher^ s Run. The Battalion reinforced by four new 
corapanies and become a regiment again. They take part in the tnovements which resulted in the 
evacuation of Petersbtirgh and Richmond, and in the cajiture of Lee's Army. Their return to 
Washington. Muster our and return hotne. 



The liistory of the old Eighty-Third properly 
ended with the last chapter. Bat as there were 
nearly six hundred men still left on the mus- 
ter-rolls, embracing the re-enlisted veteran 
volunteers who came out in ISfil, the recruits 
of 1862, the drafted men of 1863, and the re- 
crnits of 1864, I have thought it proper to con- 
tinue the history the same as il'no re-organiza- 
tion had taken place. In fact there were three 
times as many remained as there were muster- 
ed out of service. Buttheir subsequent history 
will necessarily be brief and imperfect, as I left 
the regiment shortly after the niuster-out, and 
:ini able to give onij'' such disconnected accounts 
;is I have been able to obtain from a few of its 
officers. 

On the 7th of September the ten companies of 
the regiment were consolidated into six, and 
re-lettered as follows : 

Co. A, (formed of E and part of C.) 



B, r" 


" H and part of K.) 


O, (" 


" I, K and C.) 


D, (" 


" F, B and K.) 


E, (" 


" G and pari, of B.) 


•' I (" 


'• D, A and K.) 



Under this organization they were known in 
official language as the Eight^'-Third Battalion, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the only field 
officers they were entitled to was a Lieut. Col- 
onel and a Major. Capt. C. P. Rogers was after- 
wards commissioned Lieut. Colonel, and Capt. 
Wm. O. Colt, Major. As the Battalion was not, 
also, entitled to a non-commissioned staff, the 
Sergeant-Major, Quartermaster's and Commis- 
sary Sergeants and the Hospital Steward were 
mustered out as supernumeraries. The offi- 
ces of Quartermaster and Adjutant were filled 
by lieutenants detailed from the companies for 
that purpose. 

From September to the next February the 
battalion was engaged in three different ac- 
tions, in all ol which they met with but slight 
losses, viz : The action at Peebles' Farm on the 
;50th of September, and the two actions of Octo- 
ber 27tli and February 6th, in the vicinity of 
Hatcher's Kun. Of the first affair I give the 
following account from the letter of an officer 
belonging to the Eighty- Third, who was pre- 
sent at the time : 

"We were packed on the 28th and 29th of 
September ready to move, but did not move 
until the morning of the 30th, when the 1st 
Division moved out, the 3d Brigade in advance 
witli drums beating and colors flying to the 
breeze. We left the works at the fort, to the 
left of where our camp was when you left us, 
marched directly to the front and struck the 
Squirrel Level road which we followed to Pop- 
lar Grove Spring Church. Here we found the 
' webby people's' skirmishers and they were 



soon driven in by the 4th Mich., who acted as 
skirmishers for tije brigade. Our brigade 
marched by the flank across a swamp and then 
filed off from the road to the right. All this 
time the rebels w'ere firing at us from two bat- 
teries, one directly in front and another to the 
right and front. Their skirmishers were also 
getting in, once in a while, a shot. After filing 
off the road and halting, the left of the bat- 
talion rested on the road, with the 118th on the 
right and the 16th on its left. If we had faced 
to the right and marched by the flank, without 
changing direction, we would have gone 
directly into the rebel lines. Afier some delay 
we were ordered to face to the right and take 
distance in the same direction. 

" While we were doing this we heard a devil 
of a yelling, and, on looking around, saw the 
troops running towards the enemy's works 
whooping like so many demons. The Eighty- 
Third followed suit and rushed out into a cot- 
ton field. On getting out a hundred yards into 
the field, we saw in our front a small square 
fort from which a dirty rebel battle flag was 
flying, and in which two guns were mounted. 
This fort was flanked on its right and left with 
good breastworks, having strong abattis in 
front, and appearing to be filled with men, who 
opened upon us a lively musketry flre. The 
two pieces of artillery gave us our rations of 
canister. About fifty "yards in front of the fort 
was a hollow, or ravine, which seemed to be as 
safe a place as could be found. Accordingly 
the whole line ran for it, and, when they 
reached it, halted for a few minutes. The 
colors of the Eighty-Third had gone directly to 
the front from where we started, which move- 
inent brought them about fifty yards to the 
right of the fort. A portion of the left of the 
regiment obliqued to the left and went up di- 
rectly in front of the fort. Capt. Rogers® was 
was with a squad of men in the ravine, and 
after the rebels had fired their canister, we 
rushed from the ravine, through the abattis, 
upon them. Our colors were the first upon 
their works. Capt. Rogers, with his squad, 
charged up to the fort, jumped into the ditch, 
then ran around to the entrance at the rear and 
cut oft" the retreat of about fifty of the enemy, 
among whom was the major commanding. 
'1 he enemy rallied about one hundred yards 
from their works and opened on us with 
musketry and with one piece of artillery which 
they had succeeded in getting away. We 
charged on them and soon drove them back. 
This too place about noon. 



*The Eighty -Third was commanded by Capt. C. P. 
Rogers ou this occasion. 



Eighty-Tliird Regiment, P. V. 



109 



"A division of the 9th Corps now came up 
and took the advance. The Eighty-Third was 
taken back from the brigade to a small redoubt, 
about a mile to our right, which had been aban- 
doned by the rebels. This we held until four 
o'clock in the afternoon, when we were ordered 
to rejoin the brigade. 

" A littl(? before dusk the rebels attacked the 
Ninth Corps men and they ran like sheep to 
the rear. Our division was ordered to the 
front to check the enemy. The Third Brigade 
h.id ju.st formed in the edge of a piece of woods 
as the enemy came upon us. It was now quite 
dark. The rebels soon found that they were 
not fooling with the Ninth Corps. After a se- 
vere fight of over an hour we drove them back. 
We l'»st six or seven good men killed, and 
quite a number wounded. That night we 
went back into the works which we had taken 
from the enemy, and the next day the enemy 
again attacked us but were again repulsed." 

In the action of the 27th of October, the 
Eighty-Third and the division to which it be- 
longed, were not heavily engaged, and the reg- 
iment lost no men. Tbe hardest part of the 
lighting was done by the Second Corps and 
Gen. Crawford's division of the Fifth. The 
same officer, who was present, describes the 
affair as follows : 

" The First and Second Brigades were placed 
in front and ours was held iu reserve. We 
moved at daylight on the morning of October 
27th, our division being in advance. We soon 
started the rebel picket line and drove them 
about three miles to Hatcher's Run where we 
ran against strong works, with a slashing in 
front. Here our division halted. The Second 
and Third divisions went to the left and, with 
two divisions of the Second Corps, flanked the 
works and pushed the enemy nearly to the 
South Side Railroad. There was a gap between 
the Third division and the Second Corps 
About dark the enemy discovered this and put 
a force through into the rear of the Second 
Corps and threw them into confusion. Gen. 
Crawford wheeled his division, charged and 
took nearly a whole brigade of Mahoue's di- 
vision, and re-captured a number of prisoners 
which they had captured from the Second 
Corps. Oa the morning of the 2Sth we com- 
menced falling back. The Serond division 
wentlirst; then the Third division withdrew 
their picket lines, leaving oar left flank ex- 
posed to the enemy. The moment they dis- 
covered this, they attacked our pickets and 
drove them in. Gen. Warren charged his es- 
cort and held the enemy until we could get into 
position. We had now a fair prospect for a 
tight, as the whole corps had gone with the 
single exception of our brigade. We were 
much relieved however on finding nothing but 
the enemy's cavalry in our front, and they 
seemed disposed to keep at a respectful dis- 
tance from our line. We remained in line 
about an hour, awaiting an attack, and then 
withdrew, three regiments going one road 
through the woods and three another." 

The two foregoing movements were parts of 
that series of operations by which Gen. Grant 
expected to gain possession of the Southside 
Railroad, and they were both made in that di- 
rection. By constantly worrying them in this 
manner, and in seizing and destroying all their 
principal channels of supply, he intended to ex- 
haust their resources, cripple their energies and 
to encompass them round about with a wall of 
fire, until the favorable moment should arrive 



when by a powerful and well directed assault 
upon their dues, he should inflict upon them a 
defeat from which they could never hope to re- 
cover. The re I: els still used the Weldon Rail- 
road up to Stont-y Creek Station, from which 
thev hauled supplies in army wagons around 
to Petersburg. His attention was now directed 
to the destruction of the road at that point and 
the Filth Corps were just under marching or- 
ders for that purpose. But few of the officers 
or men, however, knew the object of the move- 
ment or what was the point of their destina- 
tion. As a part of the history of the Eighty- 
Third, I must be permitted to again fall back 
upon the officer above referred to, and to give 
his description of the operation in his own 
words: 

"We had built winter-quarters on the Ree- 
bles Farm in November, and had hoped that 
we would be allowed to remain there during 
the winter. But our hopes were somewhat 
dashed, one evening, on receiving orders to be 
in readiness to move at an early hour the next 
morning, as we would probably be relieved by 
the Sixth Corps. Swearing was indulged in 
freely, as you can well imagine. On the morn- 
ing of the Gth of December we moved to the 
Jerusalem Plank Road, in front of Fort Ste- 
vens, and bivouacked. During the day our 
whole corns concentrated at this point", and 
Gens. Griffin and Bartlett both gave it as their 
opinion that we were going into winter-quar- 
ters. That sounded very well, but did not last 
long ; for about ten o'clock that night the men 
were supplied with sixty rounds of ammuni- 
tion apiece, with orders to move at daylightthe 
next morning. No one could imagine where 
we were going, but it was generally supposed 
that we were going to make a flank movement. 
At daylight, December 7th. we moved out on 
the Jerusalem Plank Road away from Peters- 
burg. After a march of nineteen miles, we 
left the plank road, turned to the right and, 
about a mile from there found the Nottoway 
River. We reached there at about four o'clock 
p. m., and bivouacked. That night a pontoon 
bridge was laid, and at two o'clock on the 
morning of the 8th we crossed the river and 
mai-ched to Sussex Court House. From there 
we marched to the Weldon Railroad, which we 
struck at the point where it crosses the Notta- 
way River, a mile or two below Stoney Creek 
Station. We reached the railroad about noon. 
At sundown our division moved to the rail- 
road and destroyed it as far as Jarrett's Station, 
ten miles from Stoney Creek Station. At mid- 
night we were relieved by the Third Division, 
who continued to destroy the track while we 
bivouacked at Jarrett's Station. 

" On the 9th we moved towards Hicksford 
and encamped, about six miles from Bellefield, 
on the plantation of one Ben Bailes. Ben had 
a large quantity of provisions, poultry, hogs, 
etc., besides about twenty-five barrels of liquor, 
called, by the natives, Apple Jack. About 
every man in the brigade filled his canteen and 
coffee pot, and by midnight we had a drunken 
brigade. We had very nice weather up to the 
evening of the 9th. It then commenced to 
rain, (or tried to) but it was so cold that the 
rain froze. The ground and the trees were cov- 
ered with ice the next morning. W^e were or- 
dered to move at six o'clock that morning, but 
it was seven before the brigade got under way. 
So many men were ' half sea^ over' that it was 
almost impossible to get them started. A num- 
ber were left behind and have not been heard 



110 



Judson's History of 



of since. That day (the 10th) we marched to 
Sussex Court House, distant twenty-one nailes. 
Ou the nth we re-crossed the Nottoway and 
bivouacked on the plantation of M ij. Belshe.s, 
of the C. S. A. On the 12th we returned to our 
present quarters, about a mile irom the Gurley 
House, near the Jerusalem Plank Road. We 
did not fire a shot while we were gone, except 
at hogs, sheep, etc." 

The third affair, in which the Eighty-Third 
was engaged, was what is known as the battle 
of Dabiiey's Mill, which is in the vicinity of 
Hatcher's" Run. This engagement took place 
on the 6th of February, 1865, and was another 
one of Gen. Grant's leaps towards the South 
Side Railroad. The general result was not ad- 
vantageous to our arms. The Eighty-Third, 
on this occasion, was commanded by Major W. 
O. Colt. The only account I have been able to 
obtain of tlie part taken by tlie regiment is con- 
tained in the following extract from the letter 
of an officer who was present and who describes 
it thus: 

'• The last move ended in the greatest ske- 
daddle that has taken place yet ; and the wtiole 
thing was the result of our getting along too 
fast. The generals got excited and did not 
keep their reserves well in hand : and when 
Mahone charged with his division, he drove 
the front line before him and they, in turn, car- 
ried everything back with them. Fortunately 
night was close at hand, and the rebels were 
not aware of the panic we were in, or it would 
have resulted in a disastrous defeat to us. 

" Here they were, fairly surrounded on both 
sides by our troops, but neither they nor we 
knew it at the time. During the night they 
threw up breastworks ; but it is hardly neces- 
sary to say that, when morning came and they 
discovered the position they were in, they left 
on the double quick. Had we known their 
exact position we might have charged down 
on them and captured a brigade easy enough. 

" Biig. Gen. A. L. Pearson commanded the 
brigade on the day of the fight and, after ta- 
king in hair of the brigade, came back and di- 
rected the Eighty-Thivd to be marched by the 
flank down just in rear of the tront line : and, 
as we were marching along, the rebels charged 
on the front line, driving them through our 



ranks and sweeping us off the field. Had the 
regiment been in line of battle and facing the 
charging column they, no doubt, would have 
suffered severely, as they would not have left 
the field without making some show of fight. 

"Our division was scattered by brigades 
along the line for two miles. Bad generalship 
was the secret of our failure or, in other words, 
rushing the troops ahead too fast and not keep- 
ing them well in hand." 

The Eighty-Third lost two killed in this af- 
fair and ten or twelve wounded. The killed 
were Capt. Ben. Smith and Sergeant Jason 
Winings, both of whom were well tried sol- 
diers and the latter of whom had distinguished 
himself by the capture of a rebel colonel at the 
Battle of the Wilderness. 

On the 17th of November, 1864, Captain C. 
P. Rogers was commissioned Lieutenant Col- 
onel, and on the 14th of January following 
Captain W. O. Colt was commissioned Major, 
Between the 1st and the 17th of March, 1865, 
four new companies from Harrisburg were ad- 
ded to the batalionandthe Eighty-Third again 
became a regiment, with nearly a thousand 
men, entitling it to a full complement of field 
officers. Lieutenant Colonel Rogers was ac- 
cordingly commissioned Colonel and Major 
Colt Lieutenant Colonel, their commissions 
dating from the 6th of March, 1865. 

It is impossible at this time to oollent all the 
facts connected with the part taken by the 
Eighty-Third in the last and closing campaign 
in Vir»cinia. It is enough to say that they par- 
ticipated actively in the whole of that glorioua 
campaign which resulted in the evacuation of 
Petersburgh and Richmond and in the capture 
of Lee's army; and it is gratifying to know 
that they lost but a few men during the opera- 
tions, it was the Fifth corps, to which the 
Eighty-Third belongs, that, by a heavy march 
of over thirty miles, threw themselves into the 
rear of the retreating rebels and sealed the fate 
of their army. With the rest of the Array of 
the Potomac, they arrived in front of Washing- 
ton on the 12th of May, 1865. On the 27th of 
June the regiment started for Harrisburg, a 
where they were shortly after mustered out of ^ 
service and returned to their homes. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



Ill 



FIELD AND STAFF 

—OF— 
—AND— 

EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT PENN'A VOI S., 

TOGETHER WITH 

MUSTEK KOLLS OF EIGHTY-THIED EEGIMENT. 



Field and Staff of Mcliane'8 Erie Regiment. 



John W. McLane, Colonel. 
Benjamin Grant, Lieut. (Jolonel. 
M. Scblaudecker, Major, 
Strong Vincent, Adjutant. 



J, L. Stewart, Surgeon. 
S. B. Benson, Quarter Master. 
Joseph Justice, Sergeant Major. 
William Lueije, Drum Major. 



Michael Mehl, Leader of the Regimental Band. 



Muster Roll of Field and Staff 

OF THE EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT PENN'A VOLS. 



Col. John W. McLane, enrolled at Erie, July 

29, 186L Killed at Gaines' Mill, (.see history. 
Col. Strong Vincent, enrolled at Erie, July 29, 

1861. Date of commission as Lieut. Colonel, 

July 24 1861. Died of wounds at Gettys- 

burgh, (sfe history. 
Col. O. S. Woodward, (see muster roll Co. D. 
Lieut. Col. Hugh S. Campbell, (see muster roll 

of Co E. 
Lieut. Col. DeWitt C. McCoy, (see muster roll 

Co. F. 
Major Louis H. Naghel. Date of commission, 

July 24, 1861. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Major William H. Lamont. Promoted from 

Adjutant June 27, 1862. Went out of service 

Juiy 2, 1864. 
Surgeon William Faulkner, enrolled at Water- 
ford, Aug. 27, 1861. Mustered at Erie, Sept. 

8, followmg. Resigned Oct. 14, 1862. 
Surgeon J. P. Burchtield, assigned to the regt. 

April 12, 1863. Transfered to new organiza- 
tion. 
Ass't Surgeon David E. Belknap, enrolled at 

Fairview, Aug. 27, 1861. Mustered at Erie, 

Sept. 8, 1861. Resigned June 17, 1862. 
Ass't Surgeon Michael Thompson, assigned to 

the regiment Aug. 2, 1862. Resigned May 

14, 1863. 
Ass't Surgeon T. C. M. Stockton, assigned to 

the regiment May 16, 1864. Transferred to 

new organization. 
Ass't Surgeon William S. Stewart, mustered 

out Sept. 7, 1864. 
Ass't Surgeon Isaac Walborn, not accounted 

for on muster roll. 
Ass't Surgeon Jared Free, assigned to regiment 

June 26,' 1863. Killed by guerrillas near Kel- 

leys Ford, Dec. 10, following. 
Adjutant John M. Clark, (see muster roll of 

Co. I. 
Lieut. James Saeger, Quarter Master, enrolled 

at Meadville, Aug. 15, 1861. Mustered at Erie 

Sept. 8, resigned Feb. 28, 1862. 



Lieut. Daniel W. Clark, Quarter Master, (see 
muster roll of Co. G. 

Chaplain Josiah Flower. Mustered Oct. 21, '61, 
resigned July 8, '62. 

Chaplain O. B. Clark. Mustered Sept. 1, '62. 
Transferred to the new organization. 

Sergt. Major James H. Barnett, (see muster 
roll of Co. E. 

Sergt. Mnjor Charles Himrod, (see muster roll 
of Co. E. 

Sergt. Major James M, Hunter, (see muster 
roll of Co. A. 

Sergt. Major John W. Marshall, (see muster 
rill of Co. F. 

Sergt. Major Edward L. Whittelsey, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co. E. 

Quarter Master Sergt. Edward W. Bettis, (see 
mu.ster roll of Co. K. 

Commissary Sergt. John H. Borden, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co. I. 

Commissary Sergt. John Rockwell, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co. H. 

Commissary Sergt. Walter F. Stacy, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co. I. 

Hospital Steward Philip J. Harlow, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co, K. 

Hospital Steward Joseph W. Scholl, (see mus- 
ter roll of Co. B. 

Rewimental Band. 

Michael M. Mehl, leader, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 
25, '61. The band was discharged Aug. 11, '62, 
by virtue of general order of War Dpjiart- 
ment, being in excess of legal organization. 

Charles Blanchard, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 25, '61. 

William L Brawley, enlisted at Erie Sept. 16, 
'61. Killed in action in front of Richmond, 
June 27, '62. 

Ambrose Clark, enlisted at Erie Aug. 25, '61. 

Wellington H. Daggett, enlisted at Erie Sept. 
16, '6L 

John h;. Eisentrant, enlisted at Erie Aug. 25, '61. 

John G. Freund, enlisted at Erie Aug. 25, '61. 



112 



Judson's History of 



William Olazier, enlistefl at Erie Sept. 10, 'Gl. 

Aliira Hall, enlisted ;.t Erie A up:. 14. 'f^l. 

John S. Hart, enlisted at Erie Sept. l(j, '(Jl. 

John Lodinis. pnli>.t'^d at Erie Sept. 16, '01. 

(.'orneliiis K. II. Lyrjn, Druiu iVlf<jor, (see mus- 
ter roll Co. I. 

Henry Meyer, Drum Major, enlisted at Erie 
Aug. 25, ''61. 

Charles P. Meh!, enlisted at Erie Aug. 25, '(51. 

James Morrow, enlisted at Erie Sept, 1(5, '(51. 

David A. Mills, enlisted at Erie Sei)t. 16, '61 

Valentine Renner, enlisted at Erie Aug. 25, '61. 



Muster Roll of Company " A." 

Mastered into the sertnce of the United Stafe.s, at 
Erie, Pa., August 21, 1861. 

Capt. CbarlesB. Morgan, enrolled nt Titusville, 
July 25, 1861. Commissioned Captain Aug. 

21, 1861. Resigned April :j, 18(52, 

Capt. David P. Sigler, enroHed at Titusville, 
July 25, 1861. Commissioned 1st Lieutenant 
Aug. 21, 1861. Promoied from 1st LieiUeoaiit 
to Captain, April 3, 1862. Resigned July 12, 
1862. 

Capt. David P. Jone^, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 25, 1861. Promoted from 1st Sergeant to 
2d Lieutenant Jan. 31, 1862; to ls( Lieutenant 
April 3, 1862; to Captain July 12, 18(i2. 
Woimded ac Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill and 
Bull Run, Discharged Sept. 7, 1861, by reason 
of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. James M. Hunter, enlisted at Erie, July 
24, 1861. Promott-d from Si^rgeint-Major to 
2u Lieutenant of Company A, April 3, 1862 ; to 
Ist Lieutenant, July 12, 1862. Discharged 
Sept. 12, 1862, tiy reason of wounds received 
at Malvern Hill'. 

Lieut. Martin V. (iilTord, enlisted at Wattsburg 
July 29, 1861. Promoted from 1>1 Sergeant oi 
Company K to 2d Lieutenant of Compaoy A, 
July 12, 18(52; to 1st l-ieutenant Sept. 12, 1862. 
discharged Sept. 7, 1864, by reason of expira- 
tion of term ol service. 

Lieut. Piercr> (laarahan, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 29, 1861. Promoted from 2d Sergeant to 
2d Lieutenant uct. 8, 1861. Resigned Jan. 
31, 1662. 

Lieut D.ivid R. Rogers, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 29, 1861. Promoted from 2d Sergeant to 
2d Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1863 Transtered to the 
New Organization Wept. 7, 1864, and discharg- 
ed shortly after by reason of di-ability. Was 
wounded at Laurel hi ill. 

Discharged September 7, 1864, &.»/ Reason of 
Expiration of Term of Service. 

Henry H. Black, Sergeant, enlisted at Titus- 
ville, Aug. 23, 1861. Wounded at Gaines' Mill 
and Lauiel Hill. 

George W. Cribbs, Corporal, enlisted at Titus- 
ville, Aug. 7, 1861. 

James S. Cowdeu, enlisted at Titusville, July 
29, 1861. 

Jared S. Gaboon, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 
17, 1861. 

Lntuer II. Davis, enlisted at Titusville, July 
29, 1861. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. 

Roe Fletcher. Corporal, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 29, 1861. Discharged Sent. 29, 1862. 

Hen:yGillis, enlisted at 'I'itusville, July 30, 1861. 

John Jdiue, enlisted at Titusville, Sept, 16, 18(51. 

William [libhard. Sergeant, enlisted at Titus- 
ville. July 29, 1861. Wounded at Bull Run 
and Gettysburg. 



John P. Kennedy, enlisted at Titusville, July 

30, 1861. 

Morris E. Mathews, Serjeant, enlisted at Titus- 
ville, Jtily 29, 1861. 

John A. Mizen, Corporal, enlisted at Titusville, 
Sept. 16, 1861. 

Emilius.I. Ro-s, Corporal, enlisted at TilnsviUe, 
July 29, 1861. Wounded at Gaines' Mill and 
Laurel Ui'l. 

Charles R. Russel, enlisted at Titusville, Julv 

29, 1861. 

Philip Smith, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 

1861. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Mortimer Usher, enlisted at Titusville, July 29, 

1861. Wounded at Malvern Hill and thebat- 

tle of the Wilderness. 

Discharged hy Reason of Wounds, Disease, dc , 
before the EspiraXion of their Terms of 
Service. 

Richard Best, enlisted at Titusvillf, Aug. 6, 
1861. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged 
Apiil 1, 1863. 

De-Witt C. Blanchard, Corporal, enlisted at 
Titusville, July 29, 1861. Woun<]ed at Mal- 
vern Hill. Discharged Jan. 8. 18(53. 

Adad Bradlev, Corporal, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 29, iSh. Discharged Sept 1, 1861. 

Judson Blanchard, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 
13, 1861. Discharged Sept. 11, 1862. 

William Brightman, enlisted at Titusville, Au^-. 

30, 1861. Discharged June 10, 1862. 

Oliver J. Coburn, enlisted at Titusville. Au^. 7, 
1861. Discharged June 10, 1862. 

George Ecles, enlisted at Titusville, Sept. 14, 
186L. Discharged Feb. 9, 18(54. 

Henry II. Fair, enlisted at I itusville, July 2!.', 
1861. Discharged Jan. 8, 1863. 

James Garrigan, enlisted at Titusville, Julv 
30, 1861. Discharged Dec. 26, 1862. 

Eliphwlet S. Green, enlisted ac Titusville, July 
29, 1861. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
cluirged Dec. 4, 18(52. 

William F. House, Sergt, enlisted at Titus- 
ville, July 29, 1861. Wounded at Malvern 
Hill. Di.v'charged Fe>). 2, 18(53. 

Joseph llutchins, Sergt, enlisted at Titus- 
ville, July 29, 1861. Discharged Feb. 9, 1863, i 
by order of VVar Department. " 

Myron B. Hatc.i, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 
7, 1861. Discharged May 2, 1863 

Wallace Hammond, enlisted at Titusville, July 
29,18(51. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
charged Sef)t. 27, 18()2. 

Geo. W. Herring, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 
1861. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged 
De(;. 23, 1862. 

Menzo Howard, enlisted at Titusville, Sept. 3, 
186]. Wounded Kt Malvern Hill. Discharged 
Feb. 9, 1863. 

Russel A. Hrirvey, enlisted at Titusville, July 
29, 1861. Di.sctiarged Feb. 11, 1863. 

George C. Kerr, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 
1861. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged 
Oct. 17, 18(32. 

William Lindsey, enlisted at TitusvJlie, Sept. 
13, 18(51. Discharged Julj^ 17, 18(52. 

Alden Limber, enlisted at Titusville, July 30, 
18(51. Discharged Jan. 28, 1863. 

Patrick Mctiuire, enlisted at Titusville, Julv 
29, 18(51. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
charged Feb. 9, 18(53. 

William M. McOammon, enlisted at'Iitusville, 
Sept. 30, 1861. Wounded at Gaines' MiU. 
Discharged Nov. 25, 1863. 

Aaron s. MsHisHeid, ena.sted at Titusville, Au^. 
7, 1S61. Discharged Sept. 1, 1S61, 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V 



113 



John E. AfcGill, enlisted at Titnsville, Aug. 2G, 

1S61. Dis rharged April 21, 1862. 
WilliKin Ma>sy, fiiLsted at 'I'itiisville, July 29, 

ISol. Discharged Aug. 1, 18(32. 
Gwrge H. Merwin, enlisled at 'I'itnsville, Sept. 

1(>, 18C1. DischargCii Sept. 29, 18(52 
Loren G. Mallorv, enlisted at 'litusville, Aug. 

7, 1861. Discharged Dec. 4, 1S62. 
Francis J. Nolan, enlisted at Titusville, July 

29, 1861. Wounded at Gaines' Mill, Dis- 

cht^rged Jan. 19, ISO-!]. 
Kav W. Vorter, enlisted at Titnsville, July 29, 

1861. Discharged May 20, 1862. 
Daniel A. Kice, enlisted at Titusville, July 29, 

1861. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
charged Sept 10, 1862. 
William C. Kice, enli.sled at Titnsville, July 29. 

1861. Discharged July 27, 1862. 
Eniniinger S. Kudv, enlisted at Titusville, Aug 

7. 1861 Discharged May 20, 18(32 
Asahel J. Root, enlisted at 'litusville, Aug. 10, 

1851. Discharged June 8, 1862. 
Gewrge W. Saaw, enlisted at Titusville, Aug 7, 

ISGl. Discharged Jan. 28, lai:]. 
Wilson G. Soutbwick, enlisled at Titnsville, 

Aug. 12, 1861 Discharged Sept. 4, 1861. 
Timothy li- Sutton, enlisled at Titusville, Aug. 

7, 186i. Discharged Sept. 4, 1861. 
John K. Sleramer, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 

7, 1861. Discharged April 4, 1862. 
Jonathan 1". Smith, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 

I, 1861. Discharged Sept. 29, 18(32. 
Jacob Slabaugh, enlisted at ritnsville, Aug. 10, 

1861. Wonnded at Malvern Hill. Discharged 

INov. 1, 186.J. 
Charles Townsend, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 

23, 1861.' Discharged April 20, 1862. 
Joel G. Whiteside. Sergt, enlisted at Titusville, 

Aug. 10. 1861. Discharged Sept. 4, 1862, by 

order of War Department. 
William Wilhelm, enlisted at Titusville, July 

29, 1861. Discharged Jan. 2, 1862. 
David S. Weed, enlisted at Titnsville, July 29, 

1861. Discharged May 20, 1862. 
Thomas Whallon, enlisted at J itnsvillp, Aug. 

10, 1861. Discharged April 3, 1862. 
A. M. Warren, enlisted at Titnsville, Aug. 12, 
\ 1851. Discharged April 20, 1862. 

Re-Enlisted Veteran Volimtcera. 

< reorge A. Quilleu, 1st Sergt, euliste:! at Titus- 
ville, July 29, 1861. Wounded at Malvern 
Hill. Re-enlisted Dec. 27, 1863. AVounded 
Sept. 30, 1864, and since died. 

Brown Zuver, Sergt, enlisted at Titusville, 
July 29, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, 1864. 

S. Harrison Wells, Sergt. enlisted at Titusville, 
Sept. 8, 1861. Re- enlisted Feb. 17, 1864. 
Wounded at the battle of the Wilceruess. 
Killed Sept. 30, 1864, before Petersburg. 

Andrews J. Williams, Corn , enlisted at Titns- 
ville, Aug. 7, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, 1864. 

Fijgene Cedar, Corp., enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 
7, 1861. Wonnded at Laurel Hill. Re-enlisted 
Feb. 17, 1864. 

<ieorge L. Fales, enli'^ted at Titusville Aug. 7, 
1R61. Wonnded at Gaines' Mill. Re-enlisted 
Feb. 17, 1864. 

Tran.s/crrcd to the JVew Organization, Veteran 
Reserve Corp.y., d:c. 

James Armstrong, drafted at Frankfort, Aug, 
13, 1863. Transferred to United States Navy 
March 12, 1864. 

William Arrington, enlisted at Titnsville July 
29, 1861. Transferred to United States Artil- 
lery, Nov. 9, 1503. 



Joseph Bean, drafted at Frankfort, Aug. 14, 

1863. 
Francis Butler, drafted at Frankfort, Aug. 11, 

1S(3.3. Wounded at the North Anna. 
John Burns, dralted at Phila., Aug. 13, "03. 
Nathan P. Cmnmiugs, enlisted at Titusville, 

Julv20,'6l. AVonnded at Gaines' Mill. Tran.s- 

fered to V. R. Corps, Mm: 7, '64. 
.Joseph Donoven, drafted at Phila., Aug. 13, '63. 
William Fox, dratted at Phila., Aug. 11, '63. 

Transfered to U. S. Navy. Mar. 12, '64. 
Thomas Griliin, enlisted at Titusville, Sept. 7, 

'61. Wounded at rjettvsburg. Transiered to 

V. Pv. Corps, March 7,"'64. 
Severen Hayes, enlisted at Titusville, July 29, 

'61. Transfered to Keu'tal band, Oct. .5, '61. 
James Henderson, enlisted at Erie. Feb. 12, '62. 
J<jbn H. Johnson, drafted at West Chester, J'uly 

18, '(33. Promoted to Sergt. Major, Mar. 18, '65. 
Bernard Killian, drafied at Frankfort, Aug. 12, 

'63. Transfered to U. S. Navy, Mar. 12, '64. 
William Lea.iiont, drafted at Frankfort, Aujj. 

13, '63. Transfered to U. S. Navy, Mar. 12, '64. 
Stei;h"n L^-an, drafted at West Chester, Sept. 

12, "(K. Wonnded at Laurel Hill. 

John MeCullin, drafied at l^'rankfort, Aug. 13, 
'63. Transfered to U. 8. Navy, Mar. 12, '64. 

John McGonask, drafied at Lancaster, July 11, 
"63. Wonnded at Old Church. 

Francis Murray, drafied at Phila., Aug. 13, '63. 

John Mulasky,' drafted at ReadiBg, July 20, '63. 
Wounded at Laurel Hill. 

Thomas McGuire, drafted at Frankfort, Aug. 

13, '63. 

Charles Patton, drafted at West Chester, Sept. 

5, '63. 
James Patterson, drafted at Norristown, Sept. 

26, '63. 
Thomas Quinn, drafted at Frankfort, Aug. 13, 

'63. Captured at Laurel Hill, and re-captured 

bv Sheridan's cavelry. 
Henry Ramsdall, enlisted at Titusville, .4uer. 

9, '61. Transfered to V. R. Corps, June 5, '63. 
Cornelius R^vnoids, enlisted at Meadville, 

March 25, (Jl. Wonnded at Laurel Hill. 
William J. Stow, Enlisted at Meadville, March 

25, '64. 
W^idiHtu W. S words, drafted at Lancaster, July 

23, '63. 
Frederick Stein, drafted at Lancaster, Aug. 12, 

1863. 
Rufns Sniffin, drafted at Norristown, Sept. 26, 

1863. 
James D. Wing, drafted at Phila., Sept. 13, 63. 

Killed ill action, and died of diseaac. 

Owen Brady, enlisted at Titusville, July 29, '61. 

Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
William Cox, drafted at Phila., Aug. 13, '63. 

Killed at Laurel Hiil. 
Lorenzo ('ravens, enlisted at Titusville, July 

30, '61. Died of disease at Yorktown, Ya. 

May 7, "62. 
Willnnn F. CriV>bs, enlisted at TitusviLe, Aug. 

7, '01. Died, Jvly 9, '62, of wounds received 

at Malvern iiiH. 
Robert Gritfeo, Oorp., enlisted at Titusville, 

Aug. 30. '61. Killed at Gettysburg. 
James Graham, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 

'61. Died of disease at Gaines' Mill, June 24, 

1862. 
Henry J. Gre^n, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 

'61. Died, July 8, '62, of wounds received at 

Malvern Hill. 
Mnrrav Howard, Sergt., enlisted at Titusville, 

July" 30, 'CI. Killcd'at Laurel Kill. 



O 



114 



Judson's History of 



William Hodgden, drafied at Phila., Aug, 13, 

"63. Killed at Pelershiir^ili, June 20, 'iW. 
Comlbrt Hyde, enlisted at Titnsville, ^ept. 3, 

'61. Died, Sept. ii4, '()2, of wouuds I'eoeivfdal 

Bull Klin. 
Gt'orjije H. .Johnson, C;)rp., enliist'^d at Titus- 

ville, Aug. 7, 01. Wounded at Malvern Hill, 

and (jrettysbiirg. Killed at Liurel Hill. 
Ftederiftk L lughenbeigcr, erdistedatTitusviHe, 

.Sr-pt. 8, '01. Died, .July 1<>, '(52, of woiinds 

recieved at Malvern Hill. 
Edwin A. ]\IattisoD, Corji., enlisted at Titus- 

ville, Ang. 7, "01. Killed at Gaines' Mi:]. 
Alnnzo ^Slanul. erdisted at Titusville, Aug. 7, 

"(il. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
O'Harriger Maxen, enlisted at Titnsville, July 

30, '01. Died ofdisase, July 2S, '02. 
V\ illiam W. Maben, enlistevi at Titu-iville, July 

30, '01. J">ied of Disease at Alexandria, Ya., 

Sept. 30, '02. 
\l. S. B. Mansfield, enlisted at Titusvillo, Aug. 

7, "61. Died of disease at Washington, Oot.s, 

1862, 
Robert C. Maben. enlisted at Titusville, July 

30 '01. Died of disease at Stoneinan's iSti-i- 

tion, FeV). 7, 'O:'.. 
J..hn H. Miller, drafted at Phila., July 28, '02. 

Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Murray Nasb, enlisted at Titu.«ville, July 29, 

'01. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Killed at 

Laurel Hill. 
George W. Robinson, Copr., enlisted at Titns- 
ville, Aug. 7, '01. Wounded at Gaine.s' Mill 

and Bull Run. Killed at Laurel Hill, 
(xaorge Riddle, enlisted at Titusville, Aug. 10, 

'OL Killed at Bull Run. 
Romulus A. Storey, enlisted at Titusville, July 

29, 'til. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
John Thomas, drafted at West Chester, Sept. 2, 

'03. Died of wounds at Washington, Aug. 4, 

James W. Weir, enlisted at Erie, Mar. 13, '02. 

Kdled at Bull Run. 
James K. Wilson, enlisted at Titusville, July 

29, 'OL Killed at Malvern Hill. 
CJiarles Wright, enlisted at Titusville, July 29, 

'01. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
No. of deserters, 43. 



Mnster Roll of Company "B." 

Mustered into the service of the United ,S'tates, 
Aug. 2ofh 1861, at Erie r«n)i'a. 

(jApt. .Tohn F. Morris, enrolled at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61, commissioned Captain Aug. 25, 
wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill. 
Discharged Sept. 15, '62 bv reason of wounds. 

C*ii5t. David A. Apple, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Promoted from 1st sergt. to 2d 
Lieut. Oct. 18, '61 ; to 1st Lieut. April 3d '62; 
to Capt. Sejit. 15, '62. Discbarged May 23d, 
'63 by rea.'aon of disability. Commis.sioued 
(y'aptain in the Invalid Corps, in '03 and died 
of disease at Washington, '04. 

Capt. Daniel G. Saeger, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Pro- 
moted from 1st serct. to 21 Lieut. April 3d 
'62; to Ist Lieut. Sept. 15, '62; to Captain 
May 23d, '63. Discharged Sept. 7, '64 by reas- 
on of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. Orrin A. Hotchkiss, enrolled at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '01. Commissioned 2d Lieut. 
Aug. 25; promoted to 1st Jiieut. Sept. 15, '01. 
Resigned on account of di.sability Apr. 3. '62. 



Lieut. Andrew C. Montgomery, enlisted at 
Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. Promoted from 1st 
Corp. to 2d Lif-ut. Sept. 15, '02; to 1st Lieut. 
May 23, '63. Wounded al Malvern Hill. Tak- 
en jirisoner at Laurel Hill and re-cnptnred by 
Sheridan's Cavalry. Disehanred Sept. 7, '64, 
bj' reason of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. Charle W. Smith, enlisted at Meadville, 
Avig. 15, '61 ; re emisted as veteran volunteer 
Feb. 15, '04. Trniisferred to new organization 
Sept. 7, '64, and disoharsed assujiernumerary 
by order of Gen. Meade. Was wounded at 
(iettj'sburg. 

Di'^charged, iSept. Ith 1804, hy reason oj expira- 
tion of term of service. 

Lewis R. CorV)if, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 15, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
George R. Grei^n, Corp., eidisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 15, '01. VVoniuled at Freilericksburg. 
Thomas H. McCormick, Sergt., enlisted at 

Meidville, Aug. 15, '61. Wounded at Malvern 

Hill and at the battle of the Wilderness. 
William H. McCombs, Corp., enlisted at l-^rie, 

Sept. 12, '01. 
William McCracken, Corii., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '01. 
.John McGiil, 1st Sergt., enlisied at Meadville, 

Aug. 15, '01. AVounded at Gaines' Mill. 
Thomas G. Allen, enlisted at Meadville. Aug. 

15, '01. 
George W. Boutell, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

35. '01. Wounded May 5, 04, in the battle of 

the Wilderness, and died from the eflects; 

date of death not known. 
Henry S. Brown, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '01. Taken prisoner at TUiU Run.^ Wound- 
ed Mav 5, '64, in the battle of the Wilderness. 
Robert Boles, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. 
Hamilton Butterrteld, enlisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 15, 61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
Andrew Clark, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 

'61. Absent at the time of expiration of term 

of servic'e. 
AlonzoClark, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. 

Prisoner of war since Nov. 27. '03. 
Milton G. Dillev, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. 
William Hammond, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '01. Wounded Maj' 5, '64, in the battle of 

Wilderness. 
Robert C. Hemphill, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. 
tifeorge W. Kelley, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. 
Adam vSchneider, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
William Smith, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 

'61. Wounded at Gettysburg. 
Preston E. (^aks, Sergt., "enlisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 15, '01. 
James l^pellacy, Corp., enlisteil at Meadville. 

Aug. 16, '01. 

Discharged by reason of wounds, disease, tCc, 
before the e.vjnrafio)i of their terms of service. 

Robert H. Allison, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '01. Discharged March 24, '03. 

William L. Armstrong, enlisted at CusseAvago, 
Sept. 1, '02. Dale of discharge not known. 

Reuben L. A.shley, 1st Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '01. Wounded at Malvern Hill, 
discharged Nov. 26, '62. 

Ozias Boutell, eulisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. 
Discharged July 11, '62. 

Elijah Black, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15. '61. 
Discharged Feb. 19, '63. 



Eighty-Tliird Regiment, P. V. 



115 



Thomas F. Bresep, enlisted at Mfadville, Aug. 
15, '(51. Discharged April 17, '(12. Ko-enlissi- 
ed at Walertnrd Feb. 29, '(i4. V\ oundedinlho 
battle oflhe Wilderne.ss. 

Frank H. Couap, enlisted at Me^dviile, Aug. 15, 
"til. Wounded at Fredericksburg, discharg- 
ed by reason of wounds, Aug. 27, "03. 

Ahner Dear), enlisted atMeadville, Aug. 15, '61. 
Discharged Feb. lit!, 'G2. 

Wdliani Dougherlv, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, .lune 14, '62. Wounded at Bull Kun. 
Discnarged Mov. 28, '62, by reason of wounds. 

Arther U. Douglass, Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '61. Discharged Aug-. 11, '62, 
in order to accept comnussiou as 1st Lieut. 
in 139th Penn'a V^ol. 

Isaac Graff, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. 
Discharged Oct. 23, '62. 

Abraham C. Grove, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '62. Discharged April 11, '62. 

Jacob P. Grove, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
'61. Discharged Feb. 26, '62. Ke-eulisted 
Feb. 8, '64. 

Frederick Glastner, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

I, '62. Wounded at Gettysburg. Discharged 
Jan. 29, '64 

Charles O. Hart, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged 
Oct. 29, '62, by reason ol wounds. Ke-enlist- 
ed Feb. 5, '64. Wounded at the battle of the j 
Wilderness. 

Lorenzo A. Jeffries, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, '61. Discharged Jan. 21. '63. Ke-enlisted 
Feb. 5, '64. Wounded at Peebles Farm Sept. 
30, '64. 

William H. Kelley, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharg- 
ed Nov. 29, '62, by reason of wounds. 

William Kelley, enlisted at Mill Creek, Aug. 
28, '62. Discharged Sept 7, '64. 

Siiul Kightliuger, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, '61 Wounded at Malvern Hill. Not ac 
counted for on the 'muster out' roll. 

ChristopherKocher, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, '61. Discharged April 16, '62. 

Samuel M. Lindsay, Corp., enlisted at Mead 
ville, Aug. 15, '61, Wounded at Bull Kun. 
Discharged Feb. 19, '63, by reason of wounds. 

Joseph H. Little, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill, and 
taken prisoner at Savage's Station. Discharg- 
ed Dec. 26, '62. 

Jason P. Little, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
'61. Discharged Oct. 20, '62. 

Madison J. Montgomery, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Discharged June 2, '()2. 

Abrauam E. Pierson, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Discharged Jan. 22, '63. 

Joseph W. Schall, Hospital Steward, enlisted 
at Meadville, Aug. 15, '61. Discharged May 

II, '64. 

Jacob K. Shoppard, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. Discharged June 6, '62. 
John W. Stanford, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

11, '62. Discharged March 10, '(i3. 
ierman Stearns, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

15, '61. Discharged Nov. 9, '61. 
George P. Strouse, draf'.ed at Frankfort, Penn. 

Sept, 10, '63. Discharged Nov. 20, '6.3. 
George W. Sweet, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

I."., "61. Wounded at BliU Run. Discharged 

Nov. 20, '62. 
Andrew Taylor, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 

'61. Discharged June 2, '62. 
Walter W. Thompson, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, '61. Discharged Oct. 7, '62. 



Charles W. Thompson, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, '61. Discharged, March 1, •()2. lle- 
enhsled in Co. I. loth Penn'a Reserves. Mar. 
7, '(i4. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
DeWitr B. Waldo, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
11, 'i<l. Discharged, Nov. 26, "62. 

StinuMlA. Ward, enlisted at Me.idville, Aug. 
15, '01. Discharged, Nov. 8, '62. 

Re enlis'ed Veteran Volunteers. 

Isaac Adams, enlisleil at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
'61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Re-enlisted 
Dec. 24. '63. 

Abijah II. Burneit, Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, 'dl. Wounded at :Malvern Hill. 
Re-enlisted. Dec. 24, '(i3. Promoted to 2d 
Lieut. Co. D., new organization, Dec. 2S, '(H. 

John Bovee, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15. '61. 
Wounded at Gaines' ^Mill. Re enlisted, Jan. 
1, '(54. 

Anthony Bovee, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
'61. Re-eidisted, Jan. 1, '64. 

Horace H. Bittles, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, '61. Re-enlisted, Feb. 16, '64. Wounded 
at the battle of the Wilderness. 

Henry Bowie, enli-ted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 

I '61. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, 'm. Died ar Hare- 

I wood Hospital, Washington, D. C, May 30, 
'64, by reason of wounds received iu the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness. 

David S. Coy, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
'61. Re-enlisted Feb. 16, '64. Killed at Laurel 
Hill. 

Abner Corbiu, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
"61. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. 

Spencer Colton, etdisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
"61. Re-enlisted Feb. 16, '(54. 

William H. Fuller, Corp., enlisted at Meadville. 
Aug. 15, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner at 
(iaines' Mill. Re-enlisted Feb. 16, '64. Cap- 
tured Nov. 1862, near Harper's Ferrv, bv 
White's (Juerrillas. 

Noah Garwood, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
18(51. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, 1S63. Woumled at 
Gettysburg and in action near Old Church, 
May 30, 1864. 

Paul Jacklet, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 15, 
1861. Re-enlisted Deo. 24, 18(53. Killied in 
action near Hatchers Run, Feb. 6, 1865. 

Charles S. Kelle3% enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15. 1861. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, 1863. Wound- 
ed in action near Hatcher's Run, Fed. 6, 1865. 

William S. Kephart, Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, 1861. Wounded at Bull Run. 
Re-enlisted Feb. l-V 18(54. Killed at Laurel 
Hill. 

Beddinger Lewis, enlist«»d at Meadville, Aug. 
15, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. 

William II. McGill, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, "64. 
Promoted to 2d Lieut, of Co. E new organiza- 
tion, Dec 28, 1861. Commissioned 1st Lieut. 
Feb. 17, 1865. 

John R. McCormick, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Re-enlisted, Feb. 15. 1864. 

Cyrenus McCracken, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, 1864. 

tVederick Middaus^h, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, 1863. 

William H. Miller, enlisted atMeadville, Aug. 
15, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, 1864. Wound- 
ed at Gettysburg!!. 

Milton P. Roberts, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
15, 1861. Wounded at Bull Run. Re-enlisted 
Dec. 24, 1863. 

Lafaj^ette Shepardson, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863. Mis- 
sing since Laurel Hill. 



116 



Judson's Sistory of 



Wellington Smith, enlisted at Meadvillo, Aug 
15, 1801. Re-enlisted Feb. 15. 18:4. 

William F. Steinmetz, enlisted tit Meadville, 
Aug. 15, ISGl. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, 1864. 

Transferrd to the New Orcjanization, Veteran 
Reserve Corps, &c, 

Frank Allen, enlisted at Mesidville, Dec. 19 '03. 
Oscar M. Allen, enlisted at Meadville, March 

1, 1864. 
Alexander Axtell, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

8. 1864. 

John L. Barnes, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. Discharged May 29, 1860. 
William S. Bevins, dratted at Phila., July 2. '63. 
William Bowers, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

25, 1S64. 
Elias K. Borts, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 11, 

1864. 
George Britton, drafted at Phila., Aug. 1, 1863. 
Nathan Burdick, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1802. 
Daniel K. Best, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. Wounded at Fredeyeksburj?. 
Homer Ciiattev, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 16, 

1S64. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 

William C. Campbell, enlisted at Meadville, 
Feb. 29, 1864. 

James M. Dillv, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 11, 
1864. Wounded at, Peeble's Farm, Sept. 30, 
1SG4. and since diid. 

Levi Eufelder, drafted at Heading, Sept. 25, '63, 

Francis Grossman, drafted at Reading, Sept. 

9, 1863. 

Warren C. Golden, drafte<l at Phila., Sept. 8, 

1863. Prisoner of war since May 5, 1804. 
Fdwo.rd Hamilton, drafted at West Chester, 

Sept. 12, 1864, 
Henry A. Ho.sack, enlisted at Mtalville, Feb. 

23, 1864. 
Justice Halcomb, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

'11, 1864. 
Henry Harris, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 25, 

1864. 
Josiah Heckernell, enlisted at Ctissowago, Sept. 

1, 1862. Transfered to V. K. Corps, Feb, 15, 

1864. Wounded at Gettysburg. 

George J. Knight, drafted at Phil., July 20, '03. 
Prisoner of war since ?»Iay 5, 1861. 

Samuel R. Lane, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 
4, 1804. 

Patrick McCormick, drafted at Reading, Sept. 
7, 1803. 

Amos R. Moore, Musician, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 16, 1861. Wounded and tnken 
prisoner at Gaines' Mill, 'i ransfered to V, R. 
Corps, Sept, 1, 1803, 

John Mat. crafted at Reading, Sept, 7, 1863. 

Addison Muse, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 15, 
1861, Taken Pri.soner at Traines' Mill, Trans- 
fered to V. R. Corps, Aug. 1, 1863. 

CJyrus McEhvain, enlisted at Meadville, Feb, 
23, 1864, Wounded at Hatoher'.s Run, Feb, 
0, 1805. 

Franklin McCracklin, enlisted at Meadville, 
Feb, 8, 1804. 

Charles Montgomery, enli.sted at Meadville, 
Feb, 15, 1804. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 

Horace (or Hollis) E. Markham, enlisted at 
Meadville, Feb. 5, 18t)4. Pri.soner of war since 
May 5, 1864. 

Oscar' L. Philbrick, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 
22, 1804. 

Barnard Robinson, drafted at Phila., Aug. 11, 
1S03. 



1803. 



George Ream, drafted at Phila., Sept. 10, 
Prisoner of war since Mav 5, 1864. 

William Ream, drafted at Phila.. Sept. 10, 18G3. 
Pri-soner of war since May 5, 1864. 

Martin Reeves, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 

1861. Transfered to the Regular Armj'-, Feb. 
2, 1863. 

William Russel, drafted at Phila., Sept. 3), '63. 
Nathan Kevnolds, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

8, 1864. Wounded at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 0, 

1865. Also at the battle of the Wilderness. 
David A. Reymond, enlisted at^Ieadville, Feb. 

17, 1864. 
William A. Stephens, drafted at Phila., Sept. 

29. 1803. 
Godfrev Snyder, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. " 
George P. Seiple, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug, 11, 

1862. Discharged May 20. 1865. 
John Shields, enlisted at Meadville, Feb, 22, 

1S64. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Died Nov, 

1804, from the effects of accidental bursting of 

a shell, 
Onesimns Smith, enlisted at Meadville, Feb, 

22, 1804. 
W^'ston J. Van Meter, enlisted at Meadville, 

Feb. ?2. 1864. Wounded at Laurel Hill, 
Edgar Waldo, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug, 11, 

1862, Discharged May 29, 1865. 

Killed in Action and Died of Woicnds or Disease. 

Henderson A, Amon, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Died at Baltimore, July 7, '02, 
of t3'phoid fever. 

Wilson Amon, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
1861, Killeu at Bull Run, 

Eugene Birarius, drafted at Reading, Sept, 19, 

1863, Taken prisoner and died at RichmouU 
Ya., Nov. 20. 1863. 

Samuel A. Burnett, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 14, 
1S61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Died July 
4, 1863, of wounds received on the 2d, at Getty.s- 
burgh, 

Cvrus Calvin, enlisted at Meadville, Feb, 24, 
"1804. Killed May 5, in the battle of the Wil- 
derness. 

Solomon Grafl', Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Died July 3, 1863, at Washing- 
ton, from effects of amputation. Wounded 
at ChiincoUorsville. 

Charles Grosett, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
1861. Died Aug. 20, 1863, at York, Penn'a, of 
wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Francis M, Hoovler, enlistedat Meadville, Feb, 
9, 18(34, Died May 27, 1804, at Armory Square 
Hospital, Washington, D, C, of aHipuiation 
rendered necessary by wounds received in 
the battle of the Wilderness, 

Wdliaii S, Kephart, Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 15, 1801. Re-enlist< d as Veteran 
Yolunteer, Feb. 10, 18(54. Wounded at Bull 
Run. Killed May 8, 1864, in the battle of 
Laurel Hill. 

Harry R. Kinnear, drafted at Phila., Sept. 11, 
186;5. Killed June 20, 1864, in front of Peters- 
burg, 

Findley Lindsay, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
16, 1801, Killed at FieJericksburg. 

John A, Leec3, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 15, 
1801. Died Dec, 1, 1862, at Baltimore, o: 
chronic diarrhoea, 

John A. Lynn, enlisted at Meadville, Feb, 22, 
1804. Killed April 25, 1864, at Rappahannock 
Sta:ion, by accidental discharge of gun, 

John P, McGill, 1st Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug, 15, 1861, Died at Gaines' Mill, 
June 25, 1802, of camp fever. 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



117 



John jNEillpr, enlistpd at Mpadville, Aug. 15, 
18G1. Killed at Malvern ILill. 

Fj-nest Miller, drafted at Phila,, Sept. 10, 1863. 
Died Manth 28, 18(11, at Camp Parole, An- 
napolis, jNId. 

William ]Moser, enlist od at Meadville, Anj|. 15, 

1861. Killed at Gettysburg. 

Michael Murphy, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. Killed at (^ettysbury;. 

John G. Peilfer, enlisted at Meadville, Ansc. 15, 
1861. Died at Yorklown April 29, 1862, of 
camp fever, 

John A. Topper, enlist<^d at INIeadviUe, Aug. 
15. 1861. Kdled at Fredericksburg. 

Birchard E. True, Sergt., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 15, 1861. Killed July 2, 1863, at Gettys- 
burg. Buried in the "National Cemetery." 

.Jacob Weeder, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 15, 
1861. Died at Hall's Hill, Ya., Nov. 10, 1861, 
of typhoid fever. 

No. of deserters, 18. 



Muster Roll of Company <' C." 



Mui^iered into the service of the United States 
at Erie, Sept. 8th, 1861. 



Capt. John Graham, enrolled at Erie, Aug. 1, 

1861. Commissioued Captain, Sept. 8, '61. 

Wounded at Bull Run. Dischargefl Sept. 7, 

'64, by reason of expiration of term of s^er- 

vice. 
Lieut. Aaron E. Yale, enrolled at Erie, Aug. 

1, '61. Commissioned 1st Lieut. Aug. 29, '61. 

Resigned Oct. 31, '62. 
Lieut.3 .John W Van Natta, enlisted at Erie, 

Aug. 5, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner at 

Bull Kun. Promoted from Sergeant to 2d 

Lieut. Sept. 12, '62 ; to 1st Lieut.' Oct. 31 lol- 

lowing. Discharged Sept. 7, '61, by reascn of 

expiration of term of service. 
Lieut. Bethuel J. Goff, commissioned 2d Lieut. 

Oct. 4, '(51. Resigned Sept. 12, '()2. 
rjout. .[oseph <Jrimler, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

12, '61, Promoted to 2d Lieut. Oct. 31, '62. 

Wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. 

Discharged Sept., '64. 
Discharged Sept. 7th. 1864, bi/ Reason of Expira- 
tion of Term of Service. 
Tv illiam R. Elston, 1st Serst,, enlisted at Spar- 

tansburg, Ausr. 10, '61. Wounded at the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness. 
Phillip J. Schoaf, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

12, '61. 
John Fry, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, Sept. 2, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
.Tames Oliver, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, Aug. 5, 

'61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
William Cook, Corpora), enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

17, '61. 
Warren Bowen, Corporal, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

1, '61, Wounded at Gaines' Mill and at Lau- 
rel Hill. 
Melvin J. Olds, Corpora], enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

27, '61. 
Horace B. Dongan, Corporal, enlisted at Erie, 

Aug. 1, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill and 

at Peterslntrg. 
Nathaniel S. Siggins, Musician, enlisted at 

Tidioute, Aug. 6, '01. 
Benjamin Allen, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 8, '61, 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill, 
E/.ekiel E, Chambers, enlisted at Harbor 

Creek, Aug. 20, '61. 



James P. Ford, enlisted at Concord Au" 2f» 

'61. ' "■ '' 

Thomas GilfUhm, enlisted atErle, Auo- 9 '61 

Wounded at Bull Run, " " ' 

Georges, Herron, enlisted at Erie, Sept, 14 '61 
Thomas Hartley, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 12,''61,* 
Joseph E, Henderson, enlisted at Tidioute 

Aug, 5, '61, ' 

Henry Lederer, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 27, '61. 

Taken prisoner at Old Church, May 31 '64 

Escaped from Andersonville, 1865, ' 

George C. Marvin, enlisted at Erie, Aug, 23, '61 
Jacob W. Moore, enlisted at Springtield, Aug. 

20, '61. 
John O'Rourke, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. 
Nelson W. Pierce, enlisted at Erie, Aug 30 '61 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. ' 

Charles Shannon, enlisted at Tidioute Au"- "^ 

'61, ' "■ "' 

Charles W. Weeks, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 9, '61, 
George W. Wright, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 12. 
'6].. ^ 

Discharged by Reason of Wounds, Disease, d-e., 
before the Expiration of their Term of Service. 

Hawley W. Aubrey, Sergt,, enlisled at Erie, 

Aug, 15, '61, Discharged at Phila., Sept, 29, 

'62, by reason of wounds received at Malvern 

Hill. 
William H. Bly, Corporal, enlisted at Erie, 

Aug, 1, '61, Discharged at Baltimore Oct, 17, 

'62, by reason of wounds received at Gaines' 

Mill, 
Chambers S, Bates, Corporal, enlisted at Erie, 

Aug, 8, '61, Discharged at Point Lookout, 

Nov. 1, '62. 
Frederick B. Beard, enlisted at Tidioute, Aug. 

2, '61, Discharged at Harrison's Landing, 

July 19, '62, '" 

John Bassett, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 8, '61, Date 

of discharge not known, 
George P, Bates, enlisted at Erie, Aug, 8, '61. 

Discharged at Fortress Monroe, Sept. 30, '62. 
William Barr, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 26, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Date of discharge 

not known. 
Warren Carey, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 6, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged Dec. 

11, '62. " 

Her)ry M. Eaton, enlisted at Erie, April 9, '62. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharged at 

Warrenton, Nov. 16, '62. 
George W. Fuller, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharged at 

New York, Nov. 14, '62. 
Jacob Fry, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 5, '61. Date 

of discharge not known. 
James H. Fox, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 24, '(i2. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Date of discharge 

not known. 
Osmond D. Goflf, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, Sept. 

2^ '61. Discharged at Philadelphia, June 4, 

George Haskins, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 6, '61. 
Discharged Nov. 11, '62. 

James W. HufTm an, Corporal, enlisted at Erie, 
Sept. 5, '61. W'ounded at Gaines' Mill. Dis- 
charged at Washington, Jan. 15, '03. 

Peter W. Hamott, enlisted at Erie, March .3, 
'62. Discharged at Stoneman's Station. April 
14, '63. 

John Hickey, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, '01. 
Discharged at Stoneman's Station, date not 
known. 



118 



Judson's History of 



John B. Hall, eulistpd at Concord, Aug. 16, '01. 

Discharged at David's Island ; date not 

known. 
Michael Keucle, enlisted at Krie, Ang. ], '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Date of discharge 

not known. 
Daniel Kelley, drafted at Reading, Sept. 30, '63, 

Discharged April 10, '04. 
James J. Lyons, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 2 '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged Sept. 

22, '62. 
Charles Love, (Gunboat,) enlisted at Erie, Sept. 

17, '62. Discharged at Culpepper, Aug. 15, 

"6:5. 
Washington Lockard, drafted at Lancaster, Pa. 

July 26, '63. Discharged Jan. 16, '64. 
Samuel D. Magirk, enlisted at Concord, Aug. 

6, '61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, Feb. 24, '62. 
Dan Mitchell, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20, 1801. 

Discharged at Stoneman's Station, Mar. 8, '63. 
Charles A. Pratt, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 19, '61. 

Discharged at Hall's Hill, Feb. 9, '02. 
Richard J. Rice, enlisted at HdHl's Hill, Oct. 12, 

'01. Discharged while on Gunboat on the 

Mississippi. 
Asa Robinson, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 9, '61. 

Discharged at Baltimore, March 10, '03. 
Julius Rose, enlisted at Concord, Aug. 29, '6L 

Discarged at Washington, Jan. 26, '03. 
William J. Robinson, enlisted at Erie, Oct. 6, 

'62. Discharged at Beverly Ford Sept. 21, '63. 
Arthur Stephens, enlisted at Spring Creek, Aug. 

12, '61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, Mar. 1, '62. 
(ieorge H. Sturdivant, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

12, '61., Discharged at Georgetown, D. C, 

date not known. 
Corbena Schaurer, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 12, "61. 

Discharged at Camp Lincoln, Jan. 25, '62. 
James B. Sterrett, tmlisted at Erie, Sept. 15, '61. 

Date of discharge not known. 
James Stewart, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4, '61. 

Date of discharge not known. 
Ransom L. Tanner, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 22, 

'01. Discharged at Georgetown, April 16, '62. 
Stacy S. Whitney, enlisted at Tidioute, Aug. 

14, '61. Date of discharge not known. 

Re-enlisted Veteran Volunteers.. 

John W. Moore, Sergt., enlisted at Springfield, 
Aug. 19, '01. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Re- 
enlisted Feb. 17, '01. 

.Tohn Christian, Corp., enlisted at Tidioute, Aug. 
2. '01. Wounded at Gettysburg. Re-enlisted 
Feb. 17, '64. 

David Crandall, Corp., enlisted at Erie, Aug. 3, 
'61. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, '04. 

Samuel Ward, Corp., enlisted at Erie, Jan. 21, 
'62. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, '04. 

H. C. Brownson, enlisted at Tidioute, Aug. 10, 
'01. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, '04. Wounded at 
Hatcher's Run, Feb. 0, '05. 

Warren Hawes, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 5, '61. 
Wounded at Malvern Hill Re-enlisted Feb. 
17, '64. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 

Warren W. Jordan, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 6. '01. 
Wounded at Malvern Hill. Re-enlisted Feb. 
17, '64 Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 

William .1. Jewell, enlisted at Spring Creek, 
Aug. 6, '61. Re-enlisted Feb. 17, '(j4. 

Darwin Thompson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 9, 
'61. Wounded at Bull Run. Re-enlisted, 
Feb. 17, '64. 

Robert J. Wilson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 12, '61. 
Re-enlisted, Dec, 27, '63. 



Alonzo M. York, (Colonel,) enlisted at Concord, 
AuK. 6, '61. Re-en!i>ited, Dee. 27, '63. Mis- 
sinir siuce the acti >n at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 

6, 1865. 

Transferred to fhe New Organization, Veteran 
Reserve Corps, &c. 

Albert Allen, drafted at Lancaster, July 20, '63. 
Jacob M. Brown, drafted at Lancaster, Sept 7, 

'63. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Henry N. Brown, enlisted at Erie, Feb. 24, '62. 
John Brown, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 11, '63. 
Charles A. Brown, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 

13, '03, Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, 
Henrv W. Bowen, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

8, '64. 
Henry Brown, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 26, 

1864. 
Elon G. Balcli, enlisted at Concord, Aug. 1, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. Transferred to 

V. R. Corps, date not given. 
Anslyn Bennett, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 

13, '63. Traasfei-ed to V. R. Corps, date not 

known. 
Zacharv Cobb, enlisted at Waterford, Mar. 9, 

'64. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
John Debertin, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 13, 

1803. 
Andrew Dexter, enlisted at Waterford, March 

7, '64. 

Henry Emde, drafted at Reading, Sept. 10, '63. 

Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Michaal Flad, drafted at Phila., Aug. 13, '03. 
Sylvester Frvbarger, drafted at Lancaster, July 

21, '63. 
James Flynn, (no enlistment papers.) 
Andrew Getz, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 12, 

1803. 
John Heckleroth, drafted at Lancaster, Sept. 

29, '&.). 
John Hurtzle, drafted at Phila., July 15, '63. 
Leander Heron, enlisted at New Brighton, 

Dec. 10, '63. 
Charles M. Hathaway, enlisted at W^aterford, 

Dec. 30, '03. 
Charles Hilworth, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 

13, '03. 

Chancey Hart, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, 1861. 

Transfered to Heavy Artillery. Date not 

given. 
William F. Harris, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, "01. 

Transfered to \. R. Corps, date not given. 
Israel Justice, (no enlistment papers received.) 
Thimothy King, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 

14, '02. 

Antony Kesler, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 13, 

1863. 
John Krasha, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 13, 

1803. 
Peter Karl, enlisted at Frankford, Feb. 26, '64. 
Thomas W. King, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 17, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill, and at Gettysburg. 

Transfered to V. R. Corps, date not given. 
John Lightcap, drafted at Reading, Sept. 7, '63. 
Joseph Long, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 11. '03. 
John Loar, drafted at Frankford, Sept. 27, '63. 
Lewis Laporte, (uoenlistmentpapers received.) 
Charles Miller, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 13, 

1863. 
Martin S. Mo wry, drafted at Lancaster, Sept. 9, 

1803. 
Frederick Melhorn, drafted at Reading, Sept. 

y, 1863. 
Martin Murray, drafted at Phil'a, July 20, '63. 

Wounded Sept. 30, '64. 



Eighty-Third Regiment^ P. V. 



119 



George MeKee, enlisted at Waterlbrd, Feb, 22, 
1864. 

James Mc^Mullen, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 
20, "1)4. 

Tliotuas Murphy, (no enlistment papers receiv- 
ed. 

Joseph Nicholas, (no enlistment papers receiv- 
ed. 

Robert Nicholas, (no enlistment papers receiv- 
ed. 

William Pretsch, drafted at Phil'a, July 17, '&. 

; saac N Palmer, draf ed at Lancaster, Jiilv 
27, '(io. 

William Perkins, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 12, "(jl. 
Transfered to Heavy Artillery, date nut given. 

August Rohleu, dratted at Frankford, Aug. 12, 
18(53. 

Patrick Pvussel, drafted at Phil'a, July 20, 'ti3. 

Charles Rice, enlisted at Frie, Oct. 24, '(32. 

Jacob Rice, (no enlistment papers rec-eived.) 
Belongs to Waterford, but enlisted at Altoona, 
in March "(>4. Captured a rebel Hag, while 
lighting in the 2d Corps at the battle of the 
Wilderness. Wounded, Sept. oO, '(34, near 
Chapel House, \'a. 

(ieorge L. Rhoades, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 
2!t, '64. 

Nicholas Schroder, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 
18, '63. 

David B. S:ou(, drafted at Norristown, Aug. 
12, '63. 

John Sprine, draftpd at Reading, Sent. 29, '63. 

John H. Strum, drafted at Reading, July 21, 
1863 

John Smith, enlisted at Waterford, March 30, 
1864. 

John 8. Taylor, drafted at Phil'a, July .30, '63. 

Henry W. Thompson', enlisted at Frie, Aug. 
23, '61. Transfered to V. R, Corps, date uoi 
given. 

Jacob Walter, drafted at Lancaster, 3\\\y 18, 
l.S(j3. 

William D. Wilson, (no enlistment papers re- 
ceived.) 

Isaac B. Wilsey, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 
29, '64. Wounded at the battle of th« Wilder- 
ness. 

Peter B. Worden, enlisted at Frie, Aug. 9, '61. 
I ransfered to 2d United States Cavalry, date 
net given. 
Killed in action, or died of wounds or disease. 

Euos P. Biy, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 6, '61. Died 
at ('hester Hospital, Pa., of woands received 
at Malvern Hill. 

Joseph Coley, enlisted at Erie, Aug, 19, 1861. 
Killed at Malvern Hill. 

Erastus Covey, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 24, '61. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill. 
Died in Hospital, June 5, or 18, '64, from 
wounds received at the North Anna. 

Robert W. Duggan, IstSergt., enlisted at p]rie, 
Aug. 1, '61, Killed at Malvern Hill. 

Albert Divis, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 14, '61. 
Died of disease at Hall's Hill, Ya., Dec. 2, '6L 

Jose|)h Drake, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 9, 1861. 
Killed at Malvern Hill. 

George W. Dart, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 12, '61. 
Killed at Bull Run. 

William W. Fuller, enlisted at Frie, Aug. 1, 
'61. Diedat Baltimore, Nov. 16, '62, of wounds 
received in battle. 

Samuel C. Finley, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 19, '61. 
Died at Baltimore, .July 7, 1862, of wounds 
received at Malvern Hill. 

Forest Goodspeed, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 6, '61. 
Died in hospital, July 18, '62, of Avounds re- 
ceived at Malvern Hill. 



William Jones, drafted at Phil'a, Oct. 1, '63. 

Died of disease at Alexandria, Va., Oct. 12, 

following. 
Samuel Lyon-;, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 2, '61. 

Killed at (laines' Mill. 
.VIexander Jjowrv, enlisted at Erie, Jan. 1.), '62. 

Killed at Bull Run, 
Charles Nesbit, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, '61. 

K'Ued at Malvern Hill. 
Edward Pratt, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, '61. 

Killed at Malvern Hill. 
.Jeremiah Pierce, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, "61, 

Died at David's Island, N. Y.. of wotmds re- 
ceived at Gaines' Mill. Date of death not 

known. 
Peter H. Poller, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 29, 

'64. Died of di.sea&e at City Point, Aug. 10, 

following. 
DeLos W. Rouse, enlisted at Erie, April 1, '62. 

Died of disease at Fortress Monroe, Aug. 29, 

following. 
Orrin B. Rhoades, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

29, '64. Killed at the battle of the Wilderness. 
Stephen A. Sherlock, enlisted at Spring Creek, 

Aug. 6, '61. Died of disease at Camo Lincoln, 

June 26, '62. 
George H. Stewart, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 5, '61. 

Died in hospital, Aug. 14, '62, of wounds re- 
ceived at Gaines' Mill. 
Thomas H, Wright, enlisted at line, Aug. 14, 

61. Died of di.stase at Hall's Hill, .Jan. 7, '62. 
Albert C. Ward, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 15, '61. 

Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
James B. York, enlisted at Concord, Aug. 8, '61. 

Killed at Malvern Hill. 
No. of deserters, is. 



Muster Roll of Company << £>.' 



Mustered into the service of the United Slates at 
Erie, I'enn., Aug. 26, '61. 



Capt. O. S. Woodward, enrolled Aug. 1, '61. 
Commissioned Captain Aug. 2(), '61, Wound- 
ed at Malvern Hill. Commissioned Colonel 
to date July 8, '63, mastered March 2(5, '64. 
Wounded, ^lay 5, '64, at the Battle of the 
Wilderness. iVlustered out, Sept. 20, '64, bj-- 
reason of consolidation of regiment to bat- 
talion. 

Capt, Ohauncey P. Rog^-rs, enrolled at Edin- 
boro', Aug. i, '61. Commissioned 1st Lieut. 
Aug. 26, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
Mu-jtered as Captain, July 8, '64. Promoted 
to Lieut. -Colonel, Nov. 17, '64 : to Colonel 
March 6, '65. 

Lieut. Piympton A.White, enrolled at McKean, 
Erie Co., Aug. 1, '61, commissioned 21 Lieut, 
Aug. 26. VVounded at Malvern Hill. For 
balance of military history, see Chapter Vlll. 

Discharged Sept. 7, '61, bi/ reason of expiration 

of tcnii of service. 
Robert Gilmore, Sergeant, enlisted in Venango 

Tp., Erie Co., Aug. 17, '61. Wounded and 

taken prisoner at Laurel Hill. 
John JacobSmith, Musici n, enlisted at Harbor 

Creek, Aug. 1, '61. 
Matthew Hayes, enlisted at McKean, Aug, 4, 

'61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
William W. Lemmon, eidisted at Erie, Sept. 8, 

'61, Wounded at Bull Run. 
Otis Mor.se, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 1(5, '61. 
George A. McKee, enlisted at Youngsville, 

Aug. 16, '61. 



120 



Judson's History of 



William W. Phillips, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 

18, '(31. 
WiMiiKU Pratt, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
Alfred J. Slierrod, enlisted at E llnboro', Aug. 

•^0. 'GI. 
William Schlaback, enlisted at McKean, Aug. 

25,'(jl. 
AUiert. E. Sfafford, enlisted at IVrcKean, Sept. 

11, '61. Woundoii at Luirei liiU. 
Samuel Tate, enlisted al Eri^, Aug. 26, '61. 
IJenry Tanner, enlisted at EJinboro', Aug. 9, 

'61. 
Silas E. Wood, enlisted at Edinboro', Aupr. 8, 

'61. Wounded at Udiues' Mill, captured al 

Laurel llill and recaptured by Sheridan's 

cavalry. 
Discharged by reason of wounds, di'<ease, «.C-c„ 

be/ore the e.cpirction of their term of service. 
Eugene Rancolph, Sergeant, enlisted at Erie, 

Aug. 20, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. Dis- 
charged, Sept. 12, '63. 
Valentine Annbus. enlisted at Harbor Creek, 

Aug. 20, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 

Discharged, Nov. 8, '62. 
t'harles H. Bostwiok, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 8, 

'61. Discharged. June 18, '62. 
Michael Carty, enlisted in Green Tp.. Erie Co., 

Aug. 8, '61, Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Dis- 
charged, Feb. 11, '63. 
Charles D. Coyle, enlisted in Green Tp., Aug. 6, 

'61. Discharged, March 3, '63, by reason ot 

wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
George I. Culbertson, enlisted at Edinboro', 

Aug. 10, '61. Discharged, Oct. 7, '62, by rea- 
son of wound.s received at Gaines' Mill. 
L. t'rist, enlisted at Youngsville. Aug. 16, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged, June 

15,63. 
Eiias W. Davis, enlisted at Cassewago, Aug. 8, 

'61. Discharged, N<iv. 16, '62, bj-^ reason of 

wounds received at Malvein Hill. 
Julius VV. Day, enlisted at McKean, Aug. 5, 

'61. Wounded at Gettysburg. Discharged, 

April 2. '64. ^ s fe , 

Ijewis A. VV. Doane, enlisted in Green Tp., 

.■Vug. 8, '61. Discharged July 17, '62. 
William M. Davy, enlisted at Harbor jCreek, 

Aug. 8, '61. Supposed to have been discharg- 
ed at Philadelphia. 
Abraiu Edick, enlisted in Green Tp., Aug. 15, 

'61. Discharged, Oct. 10, '62. 
William Eox, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 16, '61. 

Not projierly accounted for as discharged. 
Martin HolcliKiss, enlisted at Cu.'^sewago, Aug. 

J2, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharg- 
ed. April 10, '63. 
De^ViIt llotchkiss, enlisted at Cussewago, Aug, 

J2, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 

chargtfd, April 21, '63. 
llt'nry M. Jennis, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug, 

23, '61. Discharged, F<'b. 11, '63. 
Samuwl E. Knerr, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 

1, '61. Discharged, Feb. 26, '63. 
George Kiierr, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 1, 

'()1. Discharged, Aug. 10, '(VI, 
Samuel Knerr, etiiixted at Edinboro, Aug. 1, 

"61. Discharged, Feb. — , '62. 
Perry Kiinme.v, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 6, 

'61. Wounded at Malvern Hill, Di&cnarged, 

June 13, '63. j 

Ciiristian Kinter, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 6, 

'61. Woundedat Malvern Hill. Dateofdis 

charge not known. 
Truman King, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 8, '61 

W^ounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged, Sept 

30, '62. 



Williiim H. Mawhaney, enlisted at A'enango, 
Aug. 18, '61. Wounded at Gaiucei' Mill. Dis- 
charged. Oot. 25, '62. 

Charles McMalian, eidi'<ted at Edinb^iro, Aug. 
20, '61. Wounded at Gaiues' Mdl. Discharg- 
ed, Dec. 27, '62. 

Sidney Pier, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20, '61. Dis- 
chrirgfid, June 5, '62. 

Frank Rittenhouse, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
6, '61. Discharged, .June 2, '62. 

M. D. Kobiuault, enlis'ed, at Meadville, Aug. 
6, '61. Discharged, July 16, '62 

Stephen Robins )n, enlisted at E iinboro, Aug. 
8, '61. Discharged, S^pt. 8, '62. 

Alonzo A. Sanders, enlisted nt Girard, Aug. G, 
'61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill : nothing since 
heard of him. 

Charles C. Stalker, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 
Aug. 27, '61. Wounded at Hanover C H. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at (Jaines' Mill. 
Discjarij;ed Feb. 25, '63. 

Warren Stuyvesant, enlisted in (ireen, Pp., 
Aug. H. '61. Discharged, Feb. 3, '63. 

James M. Thompson, enli-sted in (ireen Tp., 
Aug. I), '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
charered, Jan. 25, '63. 

Israel Turner, enlisted at Erie, .Sept. '61. Dis- 
charged, Nov. 4, '62. 

Andrew R. Ward, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
8, '61. Discharged, Nov. 8, '61. 

David Wetherbee, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
16, '61. AVounded at Malvern Hill. Discharg- 
ed, Aug. 22, '62. 

George Yaple, enlisted in Green Tp., Aug. 20, 
'61. Discharged, Nov. 10, '63. 

Re-enlisted Veteran Volunteers, 

William L. Bennet, Sergeant, enlisted at Mc- 
Kean, Aug. 5, '61. Re-enlisted, Feb. 12, '64. 
Commissioned 2d Lieut, of Co. "F" in the 
new orgauization, Feb. 17, -Qo. 

James Best, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 27, '61. Re- 
enlisted, Feb. 12, '64. Captured at Laurel 
Hill and recaptured by Sheridan's cavalry. 

William Chad wick, enlisted at Erie. Aug. 8, 
'61. Re-enlisled, Dec. 21, '63. 

Franklin Crane, enlisted at Erie. Aug. 8. '61, 
Wounded at Middlebiirg. Re enlisted, Feb, 
12, '64. Wounded at L^u^el Hill. 

Edwin A. Cole, Enlisted in (rreen Tp., Aug, 6, 
'61. Wounded at. Gaino.-i' Mill. R^-enli&ted, 
Dec. 21, '63. Wounded it Laurel Hill. 

Frank Donii;', enli-ted at Erie, Sept. 11, '61. Re- 
eulisted, Feb. 12, "64 

Tliaddeus Dav, enlisted at McKean. Oct. 5, 
'61 Woundedat Malvern Hill. Re-enlisted, 
Dec, 24. '63, Wounded at Laurel Hill. Killed, 
Sept. 30, 64. 

Charles Evs.ns, enlisted in Green Tp., Aug. 15, 
'61. Re-enlisted, Sept. 24, '63 

David H^ Luther, erdisted a' llrie, /. ug, 20. "61, 
Woii" ded ar^d tfikeu pr'soner at '^aiues' Mill 
Re-enli.'i'ed, Feb, 12, 64, 

Onslow Snodgrass, enlisted at V^nanoro, Aug, 
16, '6L llB-enl sted, Dec. 24, '63, 

Charles V^. Van Dusmi, 1st Sergf,, enlis ed at 
Ediniioro, An* 8, 61, Wounded at Claines' 
ill. ill Re enlisted, Dec, 24, '63, Promoted 
to 1st Lieut, of Co, F in the le" Organiza- 
tion, Oct. 4, '64 : to Captain, Dec. 13, following. 
Sanfoid M. Vorse, enlisted a^ Edinboro, Aug. 
18, '61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 24, '63. ■\V^ounded, 
Sept. 30, '64. 
AVilliam C. AV^alden, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
20, '61. Woiinded at I'rcdericksburg. Re- 
enlisted, Feb. 12, '64. Vv ounded at the baUle 
of the vvilderuess, and before Petersburg, 
lAarch 30, '65. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



121 



^IfiH";,^- W=^^-^I. enlisted at MeadviUe, Sept. 

lo, '61. .Re e.'j listed Dee. 24, '6;3. 
Transf,,-red to the -.r^w Organization, Veteran 
lie serve Cor PH., dx. 

^''o'^lpo"^'- i';"^-"' ^'"I'^ted nt E:Jinb.u-o, Ang. 
i' > ^,^^'«""d"d at Gettysburg. Dis- 

charged May •»). 65 * 

•^'!,^7j.f^"<'e'-^(^", draltod at Philadelphia, Sept. 

'^°ir?t,^%^^''^^'l'r' ^''Ij-^f-''^ «t Waterlord, Sept. 
i«)tJ3, 61. Wounded at GaineV Min jujd 

Da '/^?^'- ^^^--^^"sierred to V. K. Corps. 

uate not known. 
Isaac Botts, drafted at Reading, Sept. -6 '63 

Wounde.l at ths battlt. of the Wikh'rn^.s^ 
iM-ankim Barton, enlisted at Wateribrd, Jan. 

^o, '64. ' 

'^'^n'^rl ^^' ^^'■'o". enlisted at Waterlord, Jan I 

EiiRene Clapper, enlisted at McKean > uo- ,5 

1^1 Trans/erred to V. R. Corps, xMa rch lo/'f 4' 

Ge.^ge Cole enliste,] at Cnssewago, Aug. 27, 

62. Discharged May 20, --(5,1. '^ ' ^ ' 

George S. Crider, enlisted at Watc-f.^ni Au" 
2.>, 62. ' ^* 

William IT. Ciuck, drafted at Philadelphia 
oepi. ,., , -b.j^ i ' 

"^'26"'6?'' ^''*"^'''^' «^"^'«fed at V/aterford, Jan. 

MariinR. Clark, enJi^ied at Youngsville, JSfar. 



Ezra Vs- Davis, enlisted at Erie. Aug. 5, '61. 
irXry ° '^ " ^'" United s'ates 

'^^Anf. ?,H^^S^.^''^f-- ^'^"st^d atEdinboro, 
Aug. 31 (.2. Discharged May 2!) 'fi.->. 

•^'^I^"."- ^-;.>ott, drafted at Philadelphia, Sept. 
Oct.n ,,{^'^'' ^"^ ^n^eryuuville, of diarrhoea, 

Wallace Filer, enlisted at Warren, Mar. 30, '64 

Wounded Sept. 30. followiMsr 
^ .!!'r'U"'^'^''"' ^'-'i^t'-d at Edinboro, Aug, 26 

62. Discharged, Mav 29, ■(;:, ®' 

w" ^^'■'?"'.'' ^"f^^^^d Ht'Tionest:., Aug. 11, '62. 

D^schT"^ f v,'-^ '%^''". P''^"°"^^- '^t Laurel Hill. 
-Uiscnarged May 29, {]c) 

^t-*" ^tlr''®""'' ^""«i^d at Waterford, Dec. 13, 

60. Wounded at Poterslinig. ' 

Jo-sepa Hottman. enlisted at Erie. Sept. 16, '61. 

Aoundedat Fredericksburg. Transferred 

X,' ..^ • ^'- ^^^rps. Mar. 15, '64. 

'T'^m ^' ^''''' '^'"'"^'''^ ''' I^hiladelphla, Sept. 

'^^.?-"'l^'^^ Hayes, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 
■^o, 64. 

Eii Holt, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 27 '64 
Henry C. Helmbrecht, enlisted at Kd'inboro 

Sept. 2, '62. Discharged May 29, -Cy^. 

,',M J"^'^'^-^», ertlisted a^ Edinboro, Au- 11 

61. Iransferred to Co. "I." 

r^'V?' •^^""'"g''*' drafied at Reading, Sept. 

Henry Jones, enlisted at Waterford, May 15 '64 
Joseph Kincaid, drafted at Philadelphia, sVpt! 

'■',6.5. Jvilled, Sept. .30, '(ij. 
iiber Lewis, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 22 '64 

Wounded at Petersburg. * 

John Myers, drafted at Philadelphia, July 17, 

^^■'m"" ^tcGahen, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
•so, (.L. Wounded Sept. 30, '64, also wounded 
at Laurel Hdl. 

Leander Morri-^, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
2o, '64. 

Benjamin Ore, enlisted at Waterford, Aug 21 
62. Discharged, May 29, '65. 



Philander Piatt, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug 28 

'62. Wounded at Laurel Hill. Discharged 

Maj' 29, "(io. 
J. VI. l{eeder, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 27, 

'62. Wounded at Gett3^sburg. Discharged 

JMay 29, '65. 
Peter Kliou'l, enlisted at CusseAvago, Sept. 3 

'62. Wo uded at Laurel Hill. D;ed at homo 

Dec. 16, '64. 
John Rhodes, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug 7, '62. 
David W. S alford, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 

28, '(>2. Wounded at Geltj^sburg. Taken 

prisoner st the battle of the Wilderness. 
1 Discharged Ma.y 29, '65. 

jEraaf us Stafford, 'enlisted at Waterford. Auff. 
! 9 '6*' 

j Henry Strahan, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 30, '62. 
I Discharged May 29, W-,. 

Henry Schlecht, drafiod at Philadelphia, July 
22. '63. ^ 

Henry Stowe, enlisted at MeadAdlle, Feb. 23, '64. 
Charles Watson, drafted at Philadelphia, July 
15, "63. '^ ' ^ 

Peter J. Waite, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

26, '64. 
Horace Wade, enlisted at Meadville, March 

22, '64. 
Lewis Yfa'd, enlisted at Meadville, March 16, 

64. Won ded Sept. 30, '64. 
George Welseli, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

27, '64. 

Killed in action, and died ofivoxmds or disease. 
Thaddeus H. Rates, Sergt., enlisted at Edin- 
boro, Aug. 1, '61. Died of wounds received 
at Gai:'es' iMill. Data not given. 
Asa FreemaM, Sergt., enlisted at Edinboro, 

Aug. (), '61. Killed at Malvera Hill. 
James A. Lewis, Sergt., enlisted at Edinboro, 
Aug. 6, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. 
Killed at Gettysburg. 
David Proudlit,' Sergt., enlisted at Edinboro, 
Aug. 3, '6!. Died Aug. 5 '62, of wounds re- 
ceived at G.unes' Mill or Malvern Hill. 
Robert H i^rondlit, Sergt., enlisted at Edin- 
boro, Aug. 3, '61. Killed at Bull Run. 
Thomas Knbb, Sergt., enlisted in Yenango Tp., 

Aug, 17, "61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Samuel ij. Patterson. Corp., enlisted .at Edin- 
boro, A ug. 6, '61. Killed at Maivern Hill. 
Leslie Ba.kus, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 

Aug. 1, '61. Died of disease May 20, '62. 
WilhertBonney, enlisted in Green Tp., Aug. 1. 
^'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
James B. Bryant, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 

Aug. 18, '61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
D.irius Coyle, enlisted at McKean, Sept. 11, '61. 
Wounded at Malvern Hill. Killed at Get- 
tysburg. 
Dennis Donahy, enlisted at Cussewago, Aug. 8, 
'61 Died of ^;"ounds, Aug. 26, '62, probably 
received at Gaines' Mill or Malvern Hill. 
William P. Daniels, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 
^8, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Ephraim Freeman, enlisted at Cussewago, 

Aug. 8, 'til. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Edward O. Foster, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 8, '61. 
Died of typhoid fever at Bedloe's Island, May 
2(1, •62. (J- 

Charle.s Groger, enlisted at Edinboro, Aug. 6, 

'61. Died of wounds received at Gettysburg. 

D.ite not given. 
Charles .\. i-.'Jeeker, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 18 

'61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Charles J. Nichols, enlisted at McKean, Auo- 

6, '61. Died of wounds received at Malvern 

Hill. Date not given. 



122 



Judson's History of 



William Orinnn, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 

Aug. 1, 'Gl. Killi^d ; t (Jiiines' Mill. 
O. L., Otis, enlisted at Erie. Ang. 8, 'fil. Bled. 

Aiif?. 11, '62, of wounds received at Gaines' 

Mill. 
Lorenzo X, P.itterson, enlisted at Edinboro, 

Aug. 18, 'til. Wounded at Gettysburg. 

Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Johnathau Pavnc, enlisted in Franklin Tp., 

Aug 8, '(51. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Alplieus Rollison, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 13, '01. 

l)ied of typhoid fever, Dec. 20, 'til. 
Sylvester 8iierrod, enlisted at Edinboro. Aug. 

22, '61. Died of wounds received at Gaines' 

Mill. Date of dea'h not given. 
Hugh .1. Sweeney, enlisted at Eiinboro, Aug. 

7, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
John Yurrp, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4, '61. Died 

of typhoid fever. Dec. 20, '61. 
No. of deserters— 5, 



AInstcr Roll of Company '<£." 



Mustered into the service of the United i^lates at 
Eric, JPenn., Aug, 26, '61. 



Capt. Hugh S. Campbell, enrolled at Water- 
ford, July 29, '61. Commissioned Captain, 
Aug. 26. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Com- 
missioned Lieut. -Colonel, June 27, '62. 
Wout ded at Bull Run. llesigned. May 14, 
'6H, to aoctpt the appwintment of Provosi 
Marshall of ttie Dih Congressional District of 
I'ennsylvania, 

Cipt. Amos M. Judson, enrolled at Waterford, 
.July 29, '61. Commissioned Ist Lieut. Aug. 
26; Captain, Juno 27, '62. Discharged, Sept 
26, '64, by reason of expiration of term of ser- 
vice. 

Lieui. William O. Colt, enrolled at Waterford, 
July 29, "Gl. Conimi.''sioned 2d Lieut. Aug. 
26; wounded at Malvern Hill; commission- 
ed 1st IJeut., June 27, '62; Captain, Oct. :}0, 
'64. Breveied Major, Dec. 2, '61 ; commis- 
sioned Major, Jan. 14, '65. Commissioned 
Lieut.^Colonel, March 6, '65. 

Lieut. James H. Barnett, enlisted at Waterford, 
July 29, '61. Appointed Sergeant- Major, 
April 4, '62. Promoted to 2d Lieut, Jnne 27, 
'62. Discharged, Nov. 29, '62, by reason ot 
disability. 

Lieut. Alexander B. Langley, enlisted at Cam- 
bridge, Aug. 10, '61. Promoted from 4th 
Corporal to l^t Sergeant, June27, '62. Wound- 
ed at Malvern Hill. Promoted to 2d Lieut., 
Nov. 29, '62. Killed at Laurel Hill, May 8, 
'64. ' J- . 

Lieut. Edward L Whittelsey, enlisted at Wa- 
terford, July 29, '61. Wounded and taken 
prisoner at Bull Run. Promoted to 1st Sergt. 
in the winter of 1862-3, at Fredericksburg. 
Appointed Sergeant-Major, Feb. 1, '63. Pro- 
moted to 2d Lieut., May 8, '61 ; to 1st Lieut., 
Oct. 30, '64. Acting Adjutant since Sept. 7, 
'64. Commissioned Captain of Co. "A" in 
the new organization, Feb. 17, '65. 

Discharged Sept. 7, '64, by reason of expiration 
of te7")n of service. 

Minor Cheesman, Corporal, enlisted at Water- 
ford, July 29, '61. Wounded at Hanover 
Court House, Bull Run and at the battle of 
the Wilderness. 



Otto H. Hitchcock, enlisted at Waterford, Sept. 

10, '61. Detailed to duty in the Ambulance 

Corps, 
George H. A. Kerr, enlisted at Waterford, Aug, 

10, '61. Wounded at Bull Run and at the 

battle of the Wilderness. 
Walter F. KirlcJand, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 10, 

'61. 
Hiram Stevens, (B,) enli.--ted at Meadviilc, Aug. 

15, "61. Wounded at the battle of the Wil- 
derness. 

Willis Scott, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 10, 
'61. 

Discharffcd by reason of ivounds, disease, dc, 
before the expiration of their terms of service. 

Lewis P. Asper, enlisted at Waterford, July2!t, 
'61. Discharged, April 20, '62. Re-enlisted 
in the winter of '63-4. 

Martin R. Armour, enlisted at Waterford, July 
29, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner at 
Gaines' Mill. Discharged by reason of 
wounds. 

Andrew Agnew, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, 62. Discharged, Dec. 10, '62. 

Charles Averv, enlisted at Waterford, Ang. II, 
'62. Discharged, Feb. 19, '63. 

Charles M. Blair, enlist<d at Waterford, July 
20, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Dis- 
charged, Nov. 5, '63. hj virtue of enlistment 
in 5th U. S. Cav. 

John B. Burt, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 10, 
'61. Discharged, S»:-pt. 6, '62. 

Spencer Butler^ enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 10, 
'61. Wonr.ded at Bull Run. Discharged, 
INIarch 2, '63, for wounds. 

.Jain^^s Birchard, enlisted at Cambridge, Sept. 
2, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' 
Mill. Discharged, Oct. 25, '62, by reason of 
wounds 

Henry (.'. Birclm-d, enlisted at Cambri(?ge, Sept. 
2, '61. Discharge;!, July 19, '62. 

Trueman H. Blackmore, enli.sted at Waterford, 
Aug. 22, '62. Discharged, Feb. 24, '63. 

Alfred M. Barnett, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
6, '62. Dischartied, Nov. 27, '62, by reason 
of wounds received at Bull Run. Taken 
prisoner. 

Eoeiipzer B. Chamberlain, enlisted at Cam- 
bridge, Aug. 10, '61. Discharged, Jan. 8, '63. 

Benjamin Chapm, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
10*, '61, Discharged, July 31, '62. 

Abner L. Chase, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
10, '61. Discharged, March 27, '63. 

Francis ]M. Clark, enlisted at Cambridge, Sept. 
2, "01. Discharged. ]March 4, '63. 

David W. Dick, enlisted at Waterford, July 29, 
'61. Discharged, July 3, '62. 

Gideon J. Dean, enlisted at Rockdale, Aug. 28, 
'61. Discharged, Oct. 18, '62, by reason of 
woiinds received at Gaines' Mill. Taken 
prisoner at the same battle. 

John C. Esterlee, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 
10, "61. Discharged, Oct. 1, '63. 

Frank A. Howe, enlisted at Waterford, July 
29, '61. Discharged, Dec. 10, '63, by reasoa 
of wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 

William Himrod, enlisted at Waterford, July 
29, '61. Discharged, Sept. 10, '62. by reasun: 
of wounds reccdved at Malvern Hill. 
Simon Steele Himrod, enlisted at Waterford,, 
July 20, '62. Wounded slightly and taken 
prisoner at Bull Run. Discharged for disa- 
ability, Jan. 15, '63, and died at Washington 
on his way home. 
Oscar J. Hitchcock, enlisted at W^t^t rfor^i, Aug, 
R, '62. Disch.Tirged, Dec. 13, '62, 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



123 



Erastus Haggerty, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
27, '02. Bisoliarged, Feb. 2."), '03, by reason of 
wounds receive at Fredericksburg. 

William Kingen, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
21, '02. Discharged. Oct. 0, '02. 

Francis M. Kerr, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
21, '02, Wounded at Malvern Hill Dis- 
cliarged. Feb. 17, '03 — for wound->. 

"William E. Lippitt, Sergt., enli-ted at Water- 
ford, Jnly 29, '01. Discharged Dec. 10, "01, 

Thomas H. Long, enlisted at W^attsburg, Aug. 
10, '01. Wounded and taken prisoner at 
Gaines' Mill. Discharged Oct. 28, '02, by vir- 
tue of enlistment in the 12lh U. 8. Infantry. 

John H. Leibhart, Corp., enli-'ted at Cam- 
bridge, Sept. 5, '01. Woundfd at Gaines' 
Mill. Discharged Nov. 14, 'G2. by reason of 
wounds received at Bull Run. 

Patrick Leonard, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 10, '61. 
Discharged Dec. 3, "02. 

George W. Maxtield, enlisted at Waterford, 
July 29, '01. Discharged Feb. 25, '62. Re- 
enlisted in the winter of '63-4. Wounded at 
Laurel Hill, May 18, '04. 

Clark Mickle, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 10, 
'01. Discharged June 7, '03, by reason of 
wounds received at Malvern Hill. Taken 
prisoner at the same battle. 

Findlev W. Miller, enlisted at Waterford, July 
29, '01. Wounded at Malveru Hill. Dis- 
charged Dec. 20, '02. 

John H. Mitchell^ enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

20, '01. Discharged Dec. 20, 62. 
Clark A. Mansfield, enlisted at Cambridge, 

Aug. 27, '01. Discharged Dec. 30, '62. 
Frank A. Miller, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, '62. Discharged Feb. 5, '63. 
James P. Oliver, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, '62, for one year. Discharged about Dec. 

2.0, '63, by reason of expiration of term of 

service. 
Jjeouard Porter, enlisted at Waterford, July 

25, '61. Wounded at Gaines' ]Mill and at 

Bull Run. Discharged Jan. 9, '03, for 

wounds. 
Nathan Porter, enlisted at W'aterford, July 20, 

'02. Discharged Feb, 20, '03. 
John W. Pollock, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

21, '62. Discharged in the summer ot '04 to 
accept commission of Lieut in U. S. Colored 
Vols. 

Francis A. Range, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

10, '01. Discharged March 30, '63. 
John Riley, drafted at Reading, Sept. 8, '63. 

Discharged Nov. 20, '63. 
Franklin L. Scribner, enlisted at Waterford, 

July 29, '61. Discharged Nov. 20, 'Q.i. 
John P. Snow, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 10, 

'62. Discharged Feb. 23, '63. 
Meilker Stultz, enlisted at Waterford, July 29, 

'61. Wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' 

Mill. Discharged Oot. 14. '62, by reason of 

wounds. 
Henry Clinton Stafford, enlisted at Waterford, 

July 11, '02. Discharged Jan. 19, '63, by rea- 
son of wounds received at Bull Run. 
Altison Thornton, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 11, 

'61. Discharged Oc'. 19, '62, by reason of 

wounds received at Antietam. 
Frank A. Trask, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 21, 

'1)2. Discharged Oct. 20, '02, by reason of 

wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
AVilliam E. Williams, enlisted at Waterford, 

July 16, '62. Discharged July 30, '63. 
Joseph L. Webster, enlisted at Cambridge. 

Aug. 10, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner 



'62, by 



at Gaines' Mill. Discharge J Oct. 
reason of wounds. 

Albert E. Weaver, enlisted at Waterford, July 
16, '62. Discharged Dec, 5, '62. 

Re-enlisted Veteran Volunteers.. 

Frederick T. Asper, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
21, '62. Re-enlisted Feb. 14, '64. Promoted 
to Corporal. 

Joseph R. Borland, Corp ,enli.sted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10, '01 Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Ke- 
en listed Dec. 24, 'Oo. 

Charles Hirarod, Sergt. Major, enlisted at 
Waterford, Aug. 19, '61. Re-enlisted Feb. 
14, '01. Promoted from 1st Sergt., June 27, 
following. Discharged Oct. '64. 

William M. Bradbury, enlisted at Waterford 
Sept. 6, '01. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Re- 
enlisted Dec. 24, '63. Wounded in front of 
Petersburg, June 20, '04. Died from eflects 
of wound. Date of death not known. 

W'ilkes S. Colt, Sergt., enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10, '61. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. Com- 
missioned 2d Lieut, of Co. A, in the New 
Organization, Feb. 17, '05. Afterwards pro- 
moted to 1st Lieut. 

Charles F. Cummings, Sergt., enlisted at Cam- 
bridge. Aug, 10, '01, Wounded and taken 
prisimer at Malvern Hill, Wounded at 
Fredericksburg. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. 
Promoted to Commissary Sergeant March 
18. '65. 

John Cullen, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, Sept. 5 
'61. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. 

Dolphus S. Davis, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Re- 
enlisted Dec. 24.'6.3. Promoted toSergeant. 

Dav-d C. Gray, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10. '6', Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '03. Pro- 
moted to Sergeant. 

John H. Gil'jert, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
10, '01. Re enlisted Dec. 24. Wounded at 
the North Anna, May 2.5, '64. 

George W. Hazelton, enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner 
at Bull Run, Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. 

Isaac Lunger, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 
July 29, '01. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. Pro- 
moted to Sergeant. Hit several times, but 
never penetrated. 

John Lil abridge, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 10, '01. Wounded at Bull Run. Re- 
enlisted Dec. 24, '03. Taken prisoner at Lau- 
rel Hill and recaptured by Sheridan's Cav- 
alry. Promoted to Sergeant. 

Eugene Maxfield, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 
July 29, '61. Wounded .md taken prisoner 
at Gaines' Mill. Re-pnlisted Dec. 24, '63. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel Hill 
May;. '64. 

James R. Mitchell, Musician, enlisted at Now 
Vernon, Pa., Aug 5, '61. Re-enlisted Dec. 

24, '63. Was always for duty. 
Edwin T, Robinson, enlisted in Venango C)., 

Pa,, Aug. 75, '01. Re-enlisted Dec. 24, '63. 

Was always for duty, 
Reuben Sharpe, enlisted at Waterford, July 

29, '61. Re-enlisted Feb. 14, '64. W^ounded 

at Polecat Creek, May 22, '64. 
Transferrd to the New Organization, Veteran 

Reserve Corps, dc. 
John G. Avery, enlisted at Waterford, Jan 

18, '64. 
Pennington C. Boyd, enlisted at W^aterford) 

July 30, '02. Wounded at Petersburg, June 

25, '64. 
Henry L. Burt, enlisted at W^aterford, Aug. 30. 

'fi*^ Discharged May 29, '65. 



'62. 



124 



Judson's History of 



David Brown, drafted at Philadelphia, Oct.! 

I, 'G3, 
Orville J. Beach, enlisted at V/aterford, Feb. 

22, '64. 
Scribner J. Beach, enlisted at Walerlord, Feb. 

22, '64. Wounded, May 5, at tlie battleofthe 

Wilderness. 
Francis f. Birchard, enlisted at Watertbrd, 

Feb, 23, '04. 
William Cbeesman, enlisted at Waterlord, 

July 20, '62. Discharged May 29, 'G.j. 
Cornelius! Clieesman, enlisted at Waterlord, 

Jan. 4,64. 
Charles Carman, drafted at Philadelphia, July 

28, '63.« 
Charles Chandler, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

27, '64. 
Smith Dennington, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

II, '62. Killed at Hatcher's Run, Sept. 
:'.o, '64. 

Lvmau Dow, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 4, '62. 

Discharged May 29, '65. 
William Ditfeubaugh, eulistecj at Waterford, 

Dec, 26, '6:i. Captured Aug. 21, '64. 
Delancv Drake, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 22, 

'64. Wounded May .'<, in the hattle of the 

Wilderness. 
Joseph Dennington, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

1, '64. Wounded May 5, at the battle of the 

Wilderness. 
William H. Foster, enlisted at Waterford, July 

oO, '62. Discharged May 29, '65. 
James R. Gage, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 

10, '61. Transferred to Sjgnal Corps, Feb. 28, 

'62. Discharged Sept. — , '64, by reason ol 

expiration of term of service. 
Thomas Gallagher, drafted at Philadelphia, 

Oct. 1, '63. Transferred to U. S. Navv, May 

.-{, '64. 
Sherburne M. Gilbert, enlisted at Waterford, 

Feb. 27, '64. 
Kowland Hood, enlisted at Waterford, Ang. 

15, '62. Wounded in action, Swpt, 30, '64, and 
since missing. 

James C, Harris, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, '62, Discharged May 29, '65. 
Kiigene Hitchcock, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, '62. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged 
May 29, '65. 

Ira E. Hayes, enlisted at Waterford, July 20, 
'62. Taken prisoner at Bull Run. Wounded 
May 5, '64, in the battle of the Wilderness. 
Killed before Petersburg, March 3, '65. 

Irving Cooper Hayes, enlisted ut Waterford, 
Aug, 6, '62, Wounded at Bull Run, Trans- 
ferred to V, R. Corps, Feb, 6, '64. 

William Hull, enlisted at Waterlord, Dec. 
30, '()3. 

James Irvine, enlisted at Waterford, Jan, 13, 
'63. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, 

Alexander Johnson, drafted at Philadelphia, 
Sept, 30, '63, Transferred to U. S. Kavy, 
May 3, '64. 

Thomas Kilbane, enlisted at Waterlord, July 
29, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Trans- 
ferred to V. R. Corps, in '63. Discharged 
Sept. 7, '64, by reason of ex[)iralion of term of 
service. 

Thomas Knajip, drafted at Frankford, Pa., 
Aug. 19, '63. 

Jose{)h Kalraadee, (Och !) dialled at Kt-ading, 
Sept. 28, '<J3, 

Michael Kerry, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 29, 
'64. Wounded at Polecat Creek, \'a.. May 22. 

*Enlisted uuder name of Coleman, 



Hem-}'- Lytle, Sergt., etilisted at Waterfonl, 
Aug. 4, '62. Taken prisoner at Laurel Hill 
and recaptured l>v Sheridan's C ivalry. 
Wounded Sept. 30, '64, at Peebles Farm, Ya. 
Discharged May 29, '65, 

.Jacob Letever, enlisied at Waterford, Aug. 10, 
'62. Discharged May 29, '65. 

John Lawson, drafted at Philadelphia, Sept. 
12, '63. Wounded fit Laurel Hill. 

John Lynch. (Bully Boy !) drafted at Philadel- 
phia, Sept. 12, '63. 

Andrew K. Lefever, enlisted at Waterforc", July 
16, '62. Wounded Sept. 30, '64; also before 
Petersburg, March 31, '55. Discharged May 
29, '65. 

John J. McAleer, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
8, '64. Wounded, May 5, at the battle of the 
Wilderness. 

William Mason, enlisted at Waterford, Sept. 
15, '62. Discharged May 29, '65. 

Charles A. Moore, enlisted at Waterlord, Aug. 
27, '62, Transferred to V. R. Corps in '63. 

Ralph Moore, 1st Sergt., euliisted at" Waterford, 
Aug. 11, '62. frausferred to V. R. Corps 
in '63. 

James A. Moore, 1st Sergt,, enlisttd at Water- 
ford, Aug. 11, '62, Discharged May 29, '65, 

George W, Nelson, drafted at West Chester, 
Aug. 4, '63. Transferred to U. S. Navy, ilav 

3, '64. 
James O'Neil, drafted at Philadelphia, Sept. 

2, '63. 
James O'Brien, drafted at Philadelphia, July 

30, ' 63. Transferred to the Army of the JN orth 

West. 
Lucius Porter, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 12, 

'62. Discharged May 29, '65. 
Daniel Y. Preston, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 

4, '64. Wounded, May 5, at the battle of the 
Wilderm-ss. 

William Parmateer, enlisted at Waterford, 

Feb. 22. '64. Wounded, May 5, at the battle 

of the Wilderness, 
George K, Petlit, enlisted at Meadville, March 

31, '64. 
Charles Roberts, enlisted at Waterford, July 

25. Transferred to Y. R. Corps in '64. 
Larue D. Rockwell, enlisted at Waterford, 

Feb. 2S, 'W. Wouuded at Laurel Eiili. 
Nelson B. Smith, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. 10, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner 

at Bull Run. Transferred to Y. R. Corps, 

Sept. 1st, '63, Term of service exnired Sept. 

7, '64. 
Otis B. StafTord, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

10, '61. Transferred to Y. R. Corps, Sept. 1, 

'63. Term of service expired Sept. 7, '64. 
Robert Stewart, enlisted at Waterford, Dec. 26, 

't;2. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
John Shields, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 30, '64. 
William P. Sikes, enlisted at Meadville, Marcli 

28, '64. 
Lous Shelling, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 29,'64. 
Henry B. 1 homas, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

9, '62. Discharged May 29, 65. 

Killed in Action and Died of Wounds or Disease. 
Parker M. Adams, enlisted at Mercer, Aug. 15, 

'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
George T. Burt, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 

10, '61. Died of disease at Harrison's Land- 
ing, July 17, '62. 

Henry Brown, Sergt, enlisted at Waterfbrd, 
July 29, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 

Marshall D. Burrows, enlisted at Waterford. 
Aug. '29, '62, Died of disease al Stouemau'a 
Station, Ya. .Tan. 12, '63. 



Eighty-TJiird Regiment, P. V. 



125 



John Gilson Dunn, enlisted at Wiiterford, 

Aufr. 10, 'Gl. Died a prisoner of war at Rich- 
mond, A us?. 12, '62, of wounds received at 

Gaines' Mill. 
Henry W. Dumars, enlisted at Waterford, 

Aufj. 10, '61. Died of disease in Erie Co., 

Deo. 11, '62. 
Lewis B . Frisbee, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

10, '61. Died of disease at Gaines' Mill, June 

14, '62. 
William P.. Gra}--, enlisted at Watertbrd, Sept. 

it, '61, Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Amasa L. Hough, enlisted at ^Yaterford, July 

29, '61, Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Sevmour Hoag, enlisted ac Cambridge, Aug, 

10, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
William H. Hamilton, enlisted at Cambridge 

Aug. 10. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Silas S, Hare, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 4, '64. 

Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Aiuos C. Henry, enlisted at Waterford, Dec. 28, 

"63. Killed at Beiliesda Church, Va., June, 

2, '64. 
George D. Jodson, enlisted at Waterford, July 

20, '62. Killed at Bull Kun. 
Erastus Kerr, enlisted at Waterford, Aug, 10, 

'61. Died of disease July 6, '62. 
ByrouM.Kiugen, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. 10, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill, 
James Lunger, enlisted at ^Valerford, Aug. 10, 

'61, Died of disease, July 6, '62. 
Almiron M. Lindsay, enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. 10, 61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Isaac Lefever, enlisted at SSaterford, Aug, 10, 

'61. Died Windmill Point, near Acquia 

Creek, Eeb, 2, '63, 
William C. Lord, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug, 

10, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill, 
Samuel L, Long, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug, 

10, '61, Killed at Gaines' Mill, 
Thomas H, Lord, enlisted at Waterford, Dec. 

25, '63. Missing since the battle of the \'S'ild- 

eruess. 
James C. McKinley, Color ,Sergt., enlisted at 

Waterford, Aug, 10, '61, Died of fever at 

Savage Station, about July 1st '62, 
Peter G, Mitchell, enlisted at Waterford, Aug, 

10, '61, Died at PiiiL'a, Aug, 4, '62, 
George W, McGee, enlisted at Erie, Aug, 6, '61. 

Wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill, 

Died in Richmond, bept, 1, '62, 
William Mee, enlisted at Waterford, July 16, 

'62. Died, Sept, 12, '62, of wounds received 

at Bull Run. 
Stephen Orzali, drafted at West Chester, Aug. 

4, '63. W^ounded at Petersburg, June 24, '64, 

and died the 26, from the ett'ects of the wounds. 
Thomas H. Porter, enlisted at Cambridge, Aug. 

10, '61, Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
John A. Phoenix, enlisted at Waterford, July 

29, LS61 ; wounded and taken prisoner at 

Gaines' Mill. Died at Richmond, July 17, 

'62, of wounds. 
•T, C, Perry Porter, enlisted at Waterford, Aug, 

10, '61, Died of disease at Washington, Apr. 

13, '62, 
Elbert P, Peck, enlisted at Waterford, Sept, 16, 

'61. Died at Alexandria, Va., Sept, 26, '62, 

by reason of wounds received at Bull Run, 
Horatio Perry, enlisted at Waterford, July 16, 

'62. Killed at Fredericksburg, 
John F. Rice, enlisted at Waterford, Sept. 16, 

'61. Killed at Malvern Hill, 
Albert H, Rockwell, enlisted at Cambridge, 

Aug, 10, '61. Killed at Gaine.s' Mill, 



Robert Reed Smith, 1st Sergt., enlisted at 
Waterford, Aug. 10, '61, Killed atGaines' Mill. 

Jacob Stiard, eulisied at VV aterford, July 29 
'61. Killed at Malvern Hill, 

tienry C. Smith, drafted at Phil'a, July 22, '63, 
Taken prisoner at Lnurel Hill and recaptured 
by Sheridan's cavalry. Died of disease, Aug, 
19, 't.'4, 

Ebenezer Stacy, enlisted at Waterford, Dec. 31, 
'63. Died of di.sease at Rappahannock Sta- 
tion, Feb. 19, '64. 

Judson L. Tanner, enli.stedat Cambridge, Aug. 
10, '63. Died of disease, Oct. 19, '02. 

Dennis B. Throop, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 
5, 1864. Wounded and taken piisoner at 
Laurel Hill, Diedof wounds at Spotsylvania 
C. H., May 10, '64, 

Daniel Willard, enlisted at Waterford. July 29 
'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 

No, of deserters, 43, 



MiLster Roll of Company " P." 



Mustered into the service of the United States 
at Erie, Pa., >Sept. 'od, 1801, 

Capt, DeWitt C. McCoy, enrolled at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '01. Commissioned Captain, .Sept, 
3, '01. Wounded at Gaines Mill. Commis- 
sioned Lieut, Colonel, May 15, "63; musteied 
Jan. 25, '64. Discharged by reason of expira- 
tion of term of service, Oct. 14, '64. 

Capt. Ihomas A. Stebbins, enrolled at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Commissioned 2d Lieut., 
Sept, 3, '01, and 1st Lieut., Jan, 10, '62. Pro- 
moted to Captain, Jan, 25, '04. Discharged, 
Sept. 28, '04, by reason of expiration of term 
of service, 

Lieut. Joel Smith, enrolled at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '01. Commissioned 1st Lieut,, Sept. 3. Re- 
signed, Jan, 10, '02, 

Lieut. John W. Marshall, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Promoted from Sergt, to 
Sergt-Major, June 27, '62; to 2d Lieut,, Feb, 
1, '63; to 1st Lieut , Jan. 25, '64, Discharged, 
Sept. 27, '64. 

Lieut, Augustus McGill, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug, 19, '61. Promoted from Sergt, to 2d 
Lieut,, Jan, 16, '02 ; Resigned, Feb, 1, '63. 
Re-enlisted, Dec, 26, '63. 

Lieut, William J, Gleason, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug, 19, '61, Wounded at Gaines' Mill 
and Gettysburg, Re-enlisted Veteran Vol- 
unteer, Promoted from 1st Sergt, to 2d Lieut., 
May 3, '64, Died at Seminary Hospital, 
Georgetown, D, C, June 5, '04, of wounds re- 
ceived at the North Anna, May 25, 

Lieut, John P, Kleckner, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61, Wounded and taken prisoner 
at Gaines' Mill, Re-enlisted as Veteran Vol- 
unteer, at Rappahannock Station. Promoted 
from 1st Sergt, to 2d Lieut,, July 2, '64, and 
to Captain, Oct. 31, following. 

Discharged Sept. 1th, 1864, Ijy Reason of Expira- 
tion of Term of Service. 

Nimrod B, Hotford, 1st Sergt,, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61, 

Moore C, Roberts, Sergt., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug, 19, '61, 

James R. Carringer, Sergt,, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug, 19, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill, 

Chancey C, Hayes, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug, 19, '01. AVouuded at Malvern Hill 
and Gettysburg. 



126 



Judson's History of 



Henry <31idden, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, 'til. 

Michael Peltier, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aup:. 19, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner; 
at Gaines' Mill, also wounded and taken 
prisoner at tbe battle of Laurel Hill. Died, 
^ '(J4 at Annopolis from efifects of am- 
putation. 

.John H. Devour, Musician, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Taken prisoner at Bull 
liun. Taken prisoner at the battle of the 
Wilderness, 

Charles Clifford, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19. '61. 

Daniel M, Hotchkin, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at the Wilderness, 
May 7, '64. 

LeviL. Lamb, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 

.John A. McCracken, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. 

William H. Rhodes, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill, and 
at Fi'edericksburg, 

Byron Smith, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
1861. 

John P. Smith, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel 
Hill. Taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill. 

James Strite, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, '61. 
Wounded at Malvern Hill; also at Peters- 
burg, June 23, '64. 

Warren Titus, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 19, 
'61. Wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. 

Seth Waid, Jr., enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
1861. 

Discharged by Reason ot Wounds, Disease, &c., 
before the Expiration of their Term of Service. 
John B. Compton, 1st Seri;;t., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at Malvern 
Hill, Discharged, Oct. 'I'd, '62. 
RoUin S, Thompson, Sergt., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at New ^ork, 
Sept. 4, '62. 
Jacob G. Blanchard, Corp,, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Georgetown 
D, C, May 1, '62, 
William J, Harshaw, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
Date of discharge not known. 
John D. Miller. Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Harrisons' Land- 
ing, July 17, '62. 
Henry B. Meffert, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Dis- 
charged, Sept, 18, '62, by reason of wounds 
received at Bull Run, 
Lardner J. McCrum, Corp., enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Newark, 
N, J., June 2, '63. 
John Adams, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Discharged, July 28, '62, by reason of 
wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
Ithamar Bailey, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 

'61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, Jan. 20, '62. 
Ezra Braymer, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 19, 
'61. Discharged at Georgetown D. C, April 
24, '62. 
William L. Braymer, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Georgetown D. C, 
April 24, '62. 
Andrew Biles, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 

'61. Discharged at Phil'a, Sept. 12, '62. 
William H, Bull, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Convalescent Camp, 
Feb. 16, '63. 



William Barrett, drafted in 6th Penn'a Dist., 
Sept. 12, '63. Discharged at Harewood Hos- 
pital, Feb. 24, '64. 
Charles W. Culler, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Date of discharge not known. 
Silns Clark, enlisted at Meadville, Aug, 19, 
'61, Discharged at Phii'a, June 2, '62, Re- 
enlisted, Feb, 29, '64, 
Aaron W, Dean, enlisted at MeadvUt?, Aug, 19, 
'61, Discharged at Hall's Hill, Feb. 25, '62. 
Leonard Delamater, enlisted at Meadville, Augj 
19, '61. Discharged, Dec. 26, '62, by reason of 
wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
Edward Dickson, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Camp Convalescent, 
Dec. 18, '62. 
Samuel A. Dilley, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged 
at Camp Convalescent, Feb. 9, '63. 
William PL Davis, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Stoneman's Station, 
April 2, '63. 
William Everet, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Discharged of wounds received at Mal- 
vern Hill ; date of discharge not on roll. 
Stephen Feather, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Newark, N. J., Feb. 
27, '63, by reason of wound.s received at Bull 
Run, also wounded at Malvern Hill. 
James W. Fi-ancisco, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Pittsburg, Oct. 
3, '63. 
John Gallagher, drafted in the 5th Penn. Dist,, 

Aug. 11, '63. Discharged, Dec. 14, '63. 
Severus Hays, enlisted at Titusville, Jnly 29, 
'61. Wounded at Malvern Hill, and dis- 
charged at Harrison's Landing, July 28, '62. 
Moses W. Hatch, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19. '61. Discharged at New York, Nov. 14, 
1862. 
Ezra M. Hyde, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Discharged at Camp Convalescent, Dec. 

3, '62. 
Jesse M. Hodge, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61' Discharged at Stoneman's Station, 
March 10, '62. 
George Hotchkiss, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at York, Penn'a, Marcli 

4, '63. 
Walter Holmes, enlisted at Meadville, March 

31, '64. Discharged at New York, Aug. 23, 
following. 

Samuel Iv. Isett, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Washington, D. C, 
Jan. 21, '63. 

Patrick Kearney, drafted in 5th Penn'a Dist., 
Aug. 8, '63. Discharged, Feb, 1, '64. 

William P. McCartney, enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged at Harrison's Land- 
ing, July 23, '62. 

John McMichael, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Convalescent Camp, 
Feb. 4, '63. 

Bernard McCann, drafted, Sept. 10, '63. Dis- 
charged, Dec. 21, following. 

Thomas Morgan, drafted, Aug. 11, '63. Dis- 
charged, Dec. 14, following. 

Ansel Oaks, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, '61. 
Taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill. Discharg- 
ed at Baltimore, Nov. 26, '62. 
David Patterson, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Camp Convalescent, 
Feb. 7, '63. 
Harvey Racker, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged at Baltimore, date not 
given. 



Eighty-Third Regiinent, P. V. 



Simon Y. Small, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, "Gl. Discharged, May 12, 'r>2. 
Robert Q. Suodgrass, enlisted at ^Mealville, 

Aug. 10, '61. Discharged at Warreoton, Va., 

Xor, IG, '62, hy reasou of wounds recei%'ed at 

Malvern Hill. 
Daniel Tenney, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 28, 

"()2. Discharged, Dec. 3, following. 
Josejih A. Williams, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Date of discharge not known. 

lie-Enlisted Veteran Volunteers. 

Hiram Baldwin, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Ault. 19, '61. Wounded and taken i)risoner 
at Gaines' IMill. Re-enlisted, Dec. 2G, '63. 
Wounded at Laurel iJill. 

Henry C Clark, Corp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at (rettysburg. Re- 
enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Taken prisoner at the 
battle of the V\ ilderness, and GACapcd from 
the enemy's prison, in tlie summer of 'Go. 

Jason Winans, Cnrp., enlisted at Meadville, 
Aug. 19, '61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Cap- 
tured a rebel Colonel at the battle of the Wil- 
derness. Wounded at Laurel PTill. Promo- 
ted to Scrgt. since Fepf. 7, 'G4. KUled at 
Hatcher's Run, Feb., 6, '65. 

William W. Ayers, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Re enlisted, Dec. 2G, 63. 

Fernrindo C. Ely, enlisted at Mendville, Aug. 
19, '61. Re- enlisted, Feb. 15, '61. 

John W. Foust enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. 

Elioit J. Hays, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Re-enlisted, Feb. 15, '6-1. 

David O. Hatch, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Re-enlisted, Feb. 15, '64. 

Daniel H. Jones, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Re-enlisted, Feb. 15, '64. Wounded 
at Laurel Hill. 

David [jumb, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Re-enlisted, 
Feb. 15, '64. 

Mark N. Luce, enlisted at .Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'61. Wounded atMalvern Hill. Re-enlisted, 
Feb. 15, '64. 

George Perry, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 
'Gl. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Taken prisoner 
at the battle of the Wilderness. 

Charles W. Spring, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 
19, '61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. 

Trans/erred to fhe Neiu Orr/anization, Veteran 
Reserve Corps, cCc. 

Jacol) Alabaugh, enlisted at Harrisburg, Nov. 

5, '62. 
Henry Bevellieimer, date of enlistment not 

given on muster roll. Wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg. 
Josepli Brown, drafted in 5th Dist. Pa., Aug. 

14, '63. Taken prisoner at Laurel Hill, and 

recaptured by Sheridan's cavalry. 
John F. Brock, enlisted at Meadville, March 

31, '64. 
Ichabod C. Burger, enlisted at Meadville, Mar. 

29, '64. 
Willard Beeman, enlisted at Meadville, Mai-. 

29, '64. 
John Beeman, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
Redding Burns, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
Joseph T. Barnard, enlisted at Meadville, Mar. 

7, '64. 
James D. Bartlett, drafted in 1st Dist. Penn'a, 

Aug. 13, '63. 



William A. Clifton, drafted in 5th Dist. Penn., 

Aug. 12, '63. 
Amos A. Cornell, enl sted at ^leadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Transfered to U. S. Navv, '62. Re- 
enlisted, Jilarch, 19, '64. Killed at the battle 

of the Wilderness. 
William Cochran, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded at Petersburg. 
Steven Cook, enlisted at Meadville, April 26, 

'64. W^ounded at Laurel Hill, 
.John L. Carpenter, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
Orvin B. Cravens, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29. '64. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Henry Davis, drafted in 5lh District, Aug. 13, 

'63. 
Johathan Dean, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19, 

'61. Translered to V. R. C. iu '6:5. Term of 

service expired, ^ept. 17, '6i. 
William Ferris, drafted in 4th District, Aug. 17, 

'63. 
Thomas French, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 29, 

"64. 
Geo>-ge Forbes, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 29, 

•64. 
John Grant, (ilrafted at Frankford, Aug. 11, '63. 

An old veteran of tlie Crimean war. 
John A. hampton, drafted in 4th District, Aug. 

12, '63. 
William Halfast, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

29, '64 
David Haye^, enlisted at Meadville, March 23, 

'64. 
Timothy Hammond, enlisted at Meadville. 

Jan. 29, '(51. 
Rufus Hoyt, enlisted at Meadville, March 31. 

'64. 
Adoiphus Hall, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
David C. Hall, enlisted at Meadville. March 29, 

'64. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 

iie>s. 
William Linn, draf'oJ in Sth District, Aug. 10, 

'63. 
Edward Lamb, enlisted at Meadville, March 

31, '64. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Sept. 30, '64. 
William C. McDolan, drafted in 4th District, 

July 15, '63. 
Martin McNavil, drafted in 6th District, Aug. 

23, '63. 
Charles Morri.son, drafted in 1st District, .Sept. 

12, '63. 
Moses Massiker, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
.Joseph Nelson, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 29, 

'64. 
Jackson Nobles, date of enlistment not given 

on muster roll. Wounded, Oct. 2, '64. 
Martin E, Owens, drafted in 8ih District, Sep'. 

22, '63. Transfered to U. S. Navy, May 2, "64. 
Lewis 0;it, drafted in 4th District, Sept. 10. '63. 
John O'Connor, enlisted at Meadville, March 

14, '64. Wounded at the Battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 
.JolniR. Pollev, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 29, 

'64. Killed, Sept. 30 following. 
Gilmore Piatt, enlisted at Meadville, March 23, 

'64. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Thomas Pickens, drafted in 4th District, July 

17, '63. 
Abraham Roberts, drafted in 5;h District, Aug. 

11, '63. Transfered to N. W. Army, date u )t 

given. 
Nicholas Russell, drafted in 5lh District, Aug. 

11, '63. Transfered to N, W. Army, date 

not given. 



128 



JudsorCs History of 



Frpeinan S. Radle, enlisted at iSreadville, Feb. 

2fl. '64. Wounded, ?.[arch 31, 'fi.j. 
Jn^f^pli Shriek, enlisted at Aleadville, aiarcb 

10, '64. 

MirhaelSheuret, enlisted at iNIeadville, Aug. 19, 

'61. Tr^nsft-red to A'. 11. C.,Oi!t. '17, '63. 
Tlvrnns Tliompson, dratted in 1st Districr, Sept. 

11, '63. 

r«eurge Vanderhoff, enlisted at Meadville, 

March '"o, '61. wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Thomas Wilson, dratted in Sth Distriet, Sept. 

■s, '(W. Wounded before Petersburar, March 

•Ml, '65. 
Wiliiaui Watson, drafted in 4th District, Sept. 

4, '63. 
Jfunes WilllMms, dratted in r>ih District, Aujr. 

lo, -63. 

Killed in act ion, and died of wounds or disease. 

Alexander Enters, Golor-Serjreant, enlisted at 

]MpMdv'ilie. Aup;. 10, '61. Killed at the battle 

of the Wilderness. 
Eiijali W. Holconib, Corporal, enlisted at Mead- 
ville, Aug. 19, '61. Ivilled at the battle of the 

Wilderness. 
George W. Marshall, Corporal, enlisted at 

Meadville, Aug. 19, '01. Killed at the battle 

ofMalvern Hill. 
Thoirias <l. (.'. Xeville, Corporal, enlisted at 

Me:'dville, Aug. 19, '61. Died at Alexandria, 

Sejit. 17, '62, of vt'ounds receis'od atBuU Run. 
Nathan B. Benn, enlisted at Meadviile, Au". 

19, '61. Kdled at Malvern Hill. 
William H. H. Bvham, enlisted at ]Meadville 

Aug. 19, "61. Killed at M ilvern Hiil. 
Jonas S. Byham, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Laurel Hdl. 
Arthur K, Cleland, enlisted sd Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Died of disease at Harrison's Laud- 
ing, Aug. o, '02. 
William F. Caiu, enlisted at ^Meadville. ISIarch 

o, '64. Died of typhoid fever at Petersburg, 

July 10 following. 
Eeiiben S. Delamater, enlisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 19, '61. Died, July 2, '62, of wounds re- 
ceived at Malveru Hill. 
Wiliiaia 1>. Dow, draited in .":>t!i District, Aug. 

11, '0.3. Died of disea.so at Washington, Oct. 

8 following. 
John W. Ferguson, enlisted at Meadville Aug. 

19, '6L Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Washington Harriger, enlisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 19, '61. Died at New York, date not 

given, 
Auuustiis H. Jones, enlisted at Afeadville, Aug. 

19, '01. Died of disease ac Gtorgetown, D. C. 

May 1, '62. 
Marion L. King, drafted in 19th District, Dec. 

'()•">. Died at Kappahannock Station, Feb. 22, 

'64. ' 

Jtsper Lyon, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 19 

'61. Killed at Gaines Mill. 
James H. Massiker, enlisied at Meadville, Aug. 

1!>, '61. Died, June 28, '(52, of wounds rcceiv- 

etl at (Jainos' Mill, 
llosca ]M)rrison, enlisted at MeadA'ille, Aug. 

19, '(SI. Died of disease, date not given. 
John P. MoLane, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Laurel Hiil. 
William ,J. Morrison, eidisted at Meadville, 

Aug. 19, '()1. Killed at Petersburg, June 19, 

'64. Wounded at Gaino;-. Mill, Bull Bun and 

(4ettysbui-g. 
Wilson Morelaud, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, 'OL Killed at Malveru Hill, 



William Pike, enlisted at jSIeadville, ISlarc!) 31, 

'(il. Di.^d of typhoid lever at Alexandra, 

Aug. 17 following. 
Jatnes Rankin, drafted in 4th District, Sept. 1(1, 

'63. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Jatnes W. Ross, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 29, 

'61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
George Rnlston, eniisled at ileadville, March 

3, '04. Wounded at Laurel Hill. Died of 

fever at Augur Hospital, Aug. 9 following. 
George W. Strite, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '01. Died at Washington, Aug. 12, "02, of 

wounds received at Mids^eru Hill. 
Samuel C. Thaver, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '01. Killed at Gaines' xMdI. 
John F. Thurston, enlist>'d at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '01. Died at Richmond, July 24, '62 of 

wounds received at Gaines' ]Nrill. " 
Albert C. Wentz, enlisted at Meadville, Aug. 

19, '01. Died of disease at White House, June 

10, '64. 

No. of deserters, 21. 

NoTK. — J. C. Hays, who died June 18, '61, from 
wounds received at the Rattle of the Wilder- 
ness, is not accounted for on the muster-out 
rolls of this company. 



Mustei- Roll of Company "(;.'' 



The 2^7 incipal part of which were Clustered info 

the service of the United iScates, Aug. 2Slh, and 

the bal'ince, Sept. 0, 1861, at EriePenn\t. 



Capt. Daniel S. Knox, enrolled at Tionesia, 
Aug. 19, '61. Commissioned Captain, Sept. li, 
'61. Resigned, Dec. m, '()2. 

Cap'. George vStowe, enroj!e<i at Tiouesta, Aug. 
19, '01. Commissioned l>t Lieut., Aug. 2<S, 
'01 ; promoed to Captain, Dec. 30, '62. Killed, 
at Laurel Hill. 

Capt. Mo?es G. Corey, enlisted at Tionesta, 

I Aug. — , '61. Promoted from 1st Serirt. lo 2d 

Lieut., Aug. 30, '02 ; lo 1st Lieut., Dec.^'3I, '02; 

lo (."lapiaiu. May 9, '04. Discharged, Sept. 2(>, 

'04, by reason of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. Thomas J. Van Gifjseu, enlisted atTion- 
esta, Aug. — , '01. Woundei.! at Malvern 
Hill. Promoted from Ist Serge, to 2d Lieut. 
Dec. 31, '02; to 1st Lieut, May 9, '04. Wound- 
ed at Petersburg, June 20, '04. Discharged, 
Sept. — , "64, by reason of expiration of term 
of service. 

Lieut. .John Herrington, enlisted at Tiouesta, 
Aug. 19, '61. ProMioted from 1st Sergt. to 2l 
Lieut., July 16, '02. Kiil-d at Bull Run. 

Lieut, Bt^ujamin A. S;nilh, enlisted at Tiouesta, 
Aug. 17, '01. Promot' d from 3d Sergt. to 2(1 
Lieut., jNlay 9, '(54 ; iiromoted to Captain of 
(^o. Vj, in the new organiz dion, Oct. 31, '04. 
Killed in tlie action of the 0th of Feb., '1)5, at 
Hatcher's Run. 

Lieut. Daniel W. Clark, enrolled at Tioncsta, 
Auir. 19, '01. Commissioned 2d Lieut., .sept. 
6, '61. Promoted to 1st J^ieut. and Regiment- 
al C)unrlerm;;ster, July 10, '62. Discharged, 
Sepc -^, '(i4, by reason of expiration ot term 
of .service. 

Discharged, Sept. I^li 1864, bg reason oj expira- 
tion V ■■rin of service. 

James P. Siggins, 1st Sergt., enlisted at Tiou- 
esta, Aug. 6, '61. Wounded at Hanover C. H, 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



129 



Levi Burforrl, Sergt., enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
19, 'fil. Wounded at Mnlvern Hill ; wouuded 
aiid tHken prisotier at lijuirei Hill. 
John H. Van Giesen, Sergt., enlisted at Tion- 
esta, Auk. 19, '*'l. Yv'outided at Giiines' Mill ; 
\\-oiin(ied and taken prisoner at Laurel Piiil 
— sinco dii d in rebel prison, 
Samuel D. Girt, Corporal, enlisted at Tionesia, 

Aug. 11), "Gl. 
Wil lain Lawrencp, Corporal, enlisted at Tion- 
esta, Aug. 19, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill, 
rietiysburg. 
Jacob I). Saeger, Corporal, enlisted at Tionesta, 
Aug. 27, '61. Received /fi'ff wounds at Gettys- 
btirg and i/iree at Laurel Hill. 
John T. Watson, Corpora!, enlisted at Tionesta, 
/v'.ig. 1!), 61. Wounded at the Battle of the 
Wilderness. 
^Villi»in Albaugh, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

29, '01. 
Lewis s. Carpenter, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug 

10. '61. 
John A. Dustin, enlisied at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 
'61. V/ounded at the Battle of the Wilder 
ne.ss. 
George W. Fry, enlisted at Walnut Bend, Aug. 

6, '61, Wounded at Gettysburg. 

iSa'.-iK^i Hoj't, enlisted atTionesta, Aug. 19, '61. 

Mo«es B. Hunter, enlisted at 'i ionesla, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded and taken i)ri30uer at 

Gaines' Mill. 

Saniuei C. Hunter, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

'/.7, '61 : wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Janses 1). Kerr, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 27, 

'61. 
Ji-.nobB. Leaduai, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'6!. 
HirHin K. Lyons, eidlsttd at Tionesta, Aug. 

27, '6 L 
Joh'i J>. Mf*Ciat(Miev, enlisted atTionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded at Laurel Hi!i. 
Alexander J. McCalmont, enlisied atTionesta, 
.'\ug. 1!>, 'til. Wounded at Hanover Court 
House and at Laurel Hill. 
Gf^orge >'. Mason, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 
■(U. Wounded and taken i>risoner at Gaines' 
-Mill. 
John Myers, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, '61. 

Wounded at Gettysburg. 
Joseph D. Xeliis, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug, 19, 
''il. Wounded at i,>clt.ysburg, while carrjdng 
u wounded reboi oil the iieki. 
lOphrairaT. Purdy, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded at Fredericksburg. 
IC. M, Keynolds, enlisted at Tione.sta, Aug. 27, 

'61. 
AVilliam S. Slsrgias, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. ! James S. lievnolds, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
6, '61. "" ill, '<J2. Discharged, ^March 11, '63. 



Alexander Hoinian,Sergt., enlisted atTionesta, 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged for disability : date 
not on company recoid. 
Hiram Arters, C'lr))., enlisted atTionesta, Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged for disability Mar. 17, '63. 
•James L. Huddleson, Corp , enlisted at Tiones- 
ta, Aug. 19, '63. Wounded at Bull Run. Dis- 
charged by reason of wounds, Nov. 18, '62. 
Hamilton Mason. Corp., eidisted at Tionesta, 
Aug, 19, '(jI. Discharged for disability June 
22, -63, 
William B. Albaugh, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
Aug. 19, '61. Discharged for disability ; date 
not on company records. 
Benjamin F. Bripgs, enlisted at Tionesta. Aug. 
19, '61. Discharged March 25, '63. Wouuded 
at Hanover C. H. and Fredericksburg. 
John L. Crutchlow, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug, 
19, '61. Discharged, Dec. 22, '62, by reason of 
wounds received at Bull Run, was also 
wounded at Malvern liill. 
Thomas H. Crutchlow, enlisted at Tionesta, 
Aug. il, '62. Discharged, May .5, '63, by reas- 
on of wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
Samviol l)ram, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Discharged, Feb. 24, '62, 
John C. Dow.Ming, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
19, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharg- 
ed, Jan. 28. '63. 
Robert W. Davis, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
19, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Date of 
discharge not on company records. 
Hiram L. Green, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'6i. Discharged. Nov. 26, '63. 
Wil.iam Kouge, enlist* d at Tionesta, Aug. 27, 
'61, Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharged, 
May 2, '63. 
WilliHui Ikenburg, eriiixted at Tionesta, Aug. 

27, '61. Discharged, St-pt. 11, '61. 
Adam Ikenburg, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Discharged. Match 18, '63. 
James M. Lonsbring. enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

Jl. '62. l>!sch:*rf:ed. March 25, '63. 
William Lyons, enlisted at '1 ioneste, Aug. 27, 
'61. Wounded at Bull Run. Discharged, 
Nov. 9, '62. 
Chancey McCrea, fnlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 
'61. Date of discharge not on company re- 
cords. 
George W. McCaimot. enlisted at Tionesta, 
Aog. 19, '61. Wounded at Mal\ ernHill. Dis- 
charged, Nov. 11, '62. 
William W. McDonald, enlisted at Tione.sta, 

Aug. 19, '61. DischarKcd, Jan. 16, '63. 
Robert Osgood, unlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 
'61. Discharged, Fet). 24, '62. 



James A, Thompson, erdisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

27, '61: wounded at Fredericksburg, 
(jharles C. Van Gier-en, enlisted at Tionesta, 

Mig 19, '61. 
''jiidp Wallers, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

"61. 
Jo-ep'u R. W^entvvorth, enlisted at Tionesta, 

Aug. 27, '61. T;^ken prisoner at Mine Run. 



Daniel Rustler, enlisied at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Discharged, March 12. '63. 
George Stewart, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Discharged, April 12, '63. 
Josiah Stanfoid, eidisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Discharged, Dec. 27, '61. 
John H. Wentworth, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

11. '62. Discharged, Oct, 5, '63. 



Died at Andersonvilly of typhoid fever, April ! Nicholas Weant, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 



'64. 

■Wjliiam Webber, * nlisted atTionesta, Aug. 27, 
ni. 

J)i.sciiari/ed by reasoa of wonnds, disease, dc, 
bejore the expiration of their tcr7n of service, 

William W. Dia.mond, Sergt., enlisted at Tion- 
esta, Aug. 19. '61 ; wounded at Malvern Hill. 
iJischarged lor disability, (probably from 
Wotmds,) March 2-5, '63. 



62. Discharged, Aug. 7, '63. 
Charles Sigler, enlisted at Tinnesta, Aug. 27, 

'61. Discharged, April 26, '63. 
Christouber Svndle, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '(SI. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Date of 

discharge not on company records. 

Re-E7ilistcd I'etcran Volunteers. 
Peter Grace, Sergt., enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
19, '61. '\Vounded and taken prisoner at 



Q 



130 



J'lidson's History of 



Gaines' Mill; wounded at Fredeiicksburff. 
Re-enlisted, Deo. 26, '63. Promoted to 2(1 
Lieut, of Co. "K" in the new <irKnniza!ion, 
Nov. 1, and ?o Ist Lieut., Dec. 28, ■(!4. Taken 
prisoner at Laurel Hill, and re-eaplured hv 
Sheridan's cavalry. Pioinottd to Captain, 
Feb. 17, '6o. 

Andrew J. Mitehel, Corp., enlisted at Tionestn, 
Autr. 19, '61. Re-enhstod, Dec. 26, '6:3. Wound- 
ed at the North Anna. 

M. F. Vugii-i, Corp., enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
10, '61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Wounded 
sit Fredericksburg, and twice at Laurel Hill, 
while [ilaDtirg the colors of the 83d on the 
enemy's works. 

Benjamin P. Baskin, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
lit, '61. Re-enlisteti, Dec. 26, '63. 

Israel GibVjs, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, '61. 
Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Wounded and taken 
prisoner at Laurel Hill. 

John Jolly, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 27, '61. 
Re-enlisted, Fel). 16, '64. Wounded at Mal- 
vern Hill, Fredericksburg, Laurel Hill, and 
at Peeble's Farm. 

Charles Krotzer, enlisted at Walnut Bend, Aug. 
6, '61. Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Wounded 
and taken prisoner at the battle of the Wil- 
derness. 

William W. Lowrie, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
— , '61. Re-enliated Dec. 26, '63. Killed at 
Laurel Hill. 

Henry W. McCalmont, enlisted at Tionesta, 
Aug. — , '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Re- 
enlisted Dec. 24, '63. Killed in the battle of 
the Wilderness. 

Gilbert D. Paddock, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug, 
19, '61. Re-enlisted Dec, 24, '63. Died at Hare- 
wood Hospital, May 24, '64, of wounds receiv- 
ed at Laurel Hill. 

Joseph C. Pettigrew, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 
27, '61. Re enlisted Feb. 16. '64. Wounded 
at Peeble's Farm, .Sept. 30, '64. 

John S. Range, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 
'61. Re enlisted Dec. 26, '63. Was wounded 
at Gettysburg. 

Daniel Stroup, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, '61. 
Re-enlisted Feb. 16, '64. 

Wilson F. Wentworth, Corp., enlisted at Tion- 
esta, Aug. — , '61. Wounded at Fredericks- 
burg. Re-enlisted Feb. 10, '64. Killed at 
Liurel Hill. 

Transferred to the New Organization, Veteran 
Reserve Corps, &c. 

Jonathan Albaugh, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

11, '62. Wounded at Chancelorsville. Dis- 
charged May 29, '65. 
Charles H. Albaugh, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

23, '64. 
Joseph x\my, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 29, '64. 
John H. Berlin, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel 

Hill. Discharged May 29, '65. 
John M. Brombaugb, enlisted at Meadville, 

March 8, '64. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
George BarrolF, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 26, '63. 

Wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. 
Thomas Collins, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

11, '64. 
Samuel Chris well, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

3, '64. 
John Culbertson, enlisted at Meadville, March 

1, '64. Killed Sept. 30, '64, in action at Peeble's 

Farna. 



Walker Dickson, .enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 3, 

'64. Wounded at Liiurel Hill and Beihesda 

Church. 
Joseph Dickson, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 3, 

'64. Wounded at Laurel HiH. Killed, Sept. 

30, '64, in action at Peeble's Farm. 
John Dougherty, dratted at Reading,. Sept. 25, 

'63. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 
Rinaldo Eaton, enlisted ut Waterford, Feb. 

16, '64. Wounded a Hatcher's Run, Oct. 27, 

1864. 
Lewis Eaton, enlisted at Waterford, Yoh. 22, 

'64. Received three wounds inside the rebel 

brea.stworks at Ijaurel Hill. 
Samuel Gillespie, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Discharged May 29, '65. 
Joseph R. Goheen, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. Transferred 

to V. R. Corps, Aug. 8, '63. 
.John Gordon, enlisted at Meadv'lle, Feb. 23, '64. 
George Huddleson, enli.?te<l at Tionesta, Aug. 

1 1. '62. Transferred to V. R. Corps, Sept. 3, 

1863. 
James Hunter, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Wounded at Bull Run. Transferred to 

V. R. Corps, Sept. 3, '63. 
Stephen Decatur Hunt, enlisted at Meadville, 

Jan. 29, '64; wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Charles A. Hill, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. ; wounded at the battle of the Wildernes.-*. 
.Tames M. Knox, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Discharged May 29, '65. 
Darius Kelley, enlisted at Waterford, Feb, 27, 

'64 ; wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Perry Law, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, '62. 

Discharged May 29, '65. 
John H. Mater, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. 
Silas McCalmont, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' 

Mill. Transferred to V. R. Corps, Sept, 13, '63. 
David McKay, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 12, '63. 
George McNiUt, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

23, '64. 
Francis Millett, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 29, 

1864. 
John Nuss, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 15, '63. 
James C. Percival, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

11, '62. Commissioned 2d Lieut, of Co. "E" 

in the new organization, Feb. 17, '155. 
James Purdy, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, '62. 

Discharged May 29, '65. 
L. H. Russ, drafted at Reading, Sept. 25, '63. 

Transferred to U. S. Navy, May 3, '64. 
James Robison, enlisted at Reading, Sept. 28i 

'63. Transferred to U. S. Navy, May 3, '64. 
John G. Root, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, '62. 

Discharged Ma3' 29, '6.5. 
Carlos Reynolds, enlisted at ISlertdville, Feb. 

25, '61. Wounded and taked prisoner at Lau- 
rel Hill. 

Henderson Rodgers, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

26, '64. Wounded at the battle of the Wil- 
derness. 

James Swailes, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Transferred to Signal Corps, Jan. 27, '64. 
j Jacob Swisher, enlisted at Ti ne^ta, Aug. 19, 
I '61. Transferred to V. R. Corps, Sept. 1, '63. 
Jay Smith, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 8, '64. 

Wounded at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, '65; was 

also wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Isaac W. Siggins, enlisted at Meadville, March 

26, '64. 
Henry Sweet, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 22, '64. 



Eighty-Third Begiment, P. V. 



131 



Henry 0. Snoilh, enlisted at Meadville, Jan. 29, 

1864, 
Thomas Strong, enlisted at Tiotiesta, Aug. 11, 

1862. 
Horner Towner, enlisted at Tionest-a, Aug. 11, 

'62; vvounder) at the battle of the Wilderness. 

Discharged May 29. '6.5. 
John Toner, dratted at Norristown, Pa., Sept. 

5, 'G:5. 
William Young, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 30, '63. 

Wounded at l:he battle of the Wilderness. 
Fleicher Watson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. II, 

'62 Discharged May 29, '65. 
Thomas J. Whitmore, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. Transferred 

to V. II. Corps, Sept. 1, '6:5. 

Killed in Action and Died of Wounds or Dlsea.se. 

James M. Bromley, enlisted at Tionesta, Ang. 

19, '61. Killed at Bull Run. 
Archibald Bromley, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Bull Run. 
.Tohn M. Bromley, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Died of disease at Elmira, New York, 

Feb. 18, '63. 
Eli Berlin, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, '62. 

Killed at Gettysburg. 
Robert C. Baskin, enlisted at Tionesta, Ang. 

19, '61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
William S. Dawson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

6, '61. Diedof disease at Hall's Hill, Dec. 9, 

1861. 
.Tames Davis, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 27, '61. 

Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Killed at the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness. 
Francis Eaton, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 22, 

'64. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Samuel Henderson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

27, '61. Died of wounds received at Malvern 

Hill. Date of death not on the company re- 
cords. 
John N. Heath, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

'61. Died of disease at Point Tjookout, .July 

29, '62. 
Leisure A. Hooks, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Jacob Host, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, '62. 

Killed at Laurel Hill. 
George C. Johnson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Died of disease, July 19, '62. 
John H. Kerr, enlisted alTionesta, Aug. 27, '61. 

Died of disease at Hall's Hill, Out. 26, '61. 
John F. Kinsler, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 6, 

'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Robert W. McCane, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 



Muster Roll of Company <(H.' 



Mastered into the service of the United. Slates at 
Erie, Penn., iSept. 6, '61. 



'61. 



Capt. Phineas P. Carpenter, enrolled at Con- 
neautville, Autr. 27, '61. Commissioned Cap- 
tain, Sept. 6, 'til. Resigne.i, Jan. 14, '63. 

Capt. Jarael Thickstun, enrolled at Cas.sewago, 
Sept. 1, '61. Coinniissioiied 2d Lieut., Sept. 
6, '61. Promoted to 1st Lieut., St-f.t. 29, 'r;2; 
to Captain, J;in. 14, '63. Discharged. Feb. — 
'65, ))y reason of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. John E. Wilson, enrolled at Erie, Aug. 
29, '61, and mustered the same day; date of 
discharge not j^iveii. 

Lieut. Roswell P. Hynes, enlisted at Conne.iut- 
ville, Aug. 2S, '61. Promoted from Sergeant 
— dates not given. Discharged, Sept. — ,'64, 
by reason of expiration of term of service. 

Lieut. Oliver L. Hall, enlisted at Conritauivilie, 
Aug. 28, '61. Promoted to 2d Lieut., March 
14, '63. Discharged, June 25, '64. 

Lieut, .lames W. Foster, enlisted at Conneaut- 
viile, Aug. 7, '61. Promoted from Sergeant 
to 2d Lieut., Sent. 29, '62. Resigned, March 
14, '63. 

Lieut. Andrew J. McKee, enlisted at Spring- 
field, Aug. 28, '()!. Wounded at Craines' Mill. 
Re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteer — date not 
given. Promoted to 2d Lieut., July 1, '64. 
Wounded at Petersburg. 

Discharged, Sept. 7th 1864, by reason of expira- 
tion of term of service. 

George G. Abbey, Sergeant, enlisted at Girard, 

Aug. 18, '6L 
.Tohn R. Bortles, 1st Sergeant, enlisted at Cou- 

neautvlile, Aug. 17, '61. 
Don H. Leper, Sergeant, enlisted at Erie, Au/. 

28, '61. 
Andrew C. Allen, Corporal, enlisted at Girard, 

Aug. 20, '6'. 
Henry J. Turner, Corporal, enlisted at Har- 

monsburg, Aug. 18, "61. Wounded at Laurel 

Hill. 
Charles F. Barber, enlisted at Cassewago, Aug. 

3, '61. 
Theodore Blowers, erdisted at Conneautville, 

Sept. 5, '61. 
Francis Clough, enlisted at Conneautville, Autr. 

17, '61. 
Henry Dart, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 3, '61. 
Robert Eckart, enlisted at Conneautville, Aug. 

^- -61. 



pied of disease at Point Lookout, Har'riso'n W. Holman, eidisted at Conneaut- 



Sept. 20, '6: 
Otis C. Monross, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 19, 

"61. Died, May 13, 64, of wounds received at 

Laurel Hill. 
Thomas R. B. Plowman, enlisted at Tionesta, 

Aug. 19, '61. Ivilled by the kick of a mule, 

June 25, '64. 
John Ross, drafted at Reading, Sept. 19, '63. 

Killed at the battle of the Wilderness. 
Jacob T. Shriver, Corp., enlisted at Tionesta, 

Aug. 19, '61. Died, June 10, '62, of wounds 

received at Hanover C. H. 
Andrew J. Saeger, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Levi Turner, drafted at Reading, Sept. 8, '63. 

Died of disease. May 23, '64, beingat the time 

under sentence ot death for desertion. 
Amos M. Whianer, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 

19, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 

No. of deserters, 12. 



ville. Aug. 17, '61. 
John E. Mosier, enlisted at Cass*>wago, Aug. 4 

'61. 
George McFadden, enlisted at Peen Line, 

Aug. 10, '61. 
George C. Mills, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 28, '61. 
Edward P. Oakley, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 20, 

'61. 
Alonzo Sawdy, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 21, '61. 
Andrew J. Smith, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 

21, '61. 
William F. Thayer, enlisted at (Jonneautvillo, 

Aug. 27, '61. 
William G. Wyatt, enlisted at Conneatvil'e, 

Aug 27, '63. 
Discharged bi/ reason, of ivoands, disease, dc, 
before the expirafinn of term of service. 

Calvin S. Randall, 1st Sergeant, enlisted at 
Girard, Aug. 20, '61. Wounded at Malvern 
Bill. Discharged, Jan. 28, '63. 



IS^ 



Judson's History of 



Arthur W. Vanc-amp, Sergeant, enlisted at 

Girard, Aug. 15, '61. Discharged, Dec. 15, '02. 
Don h. Kelly, Corporal, enlisted at Conneaut- 

ville, Aug. 20, 'CI. Discharged, March 28. '62. 
Hulburt Lander, Corporal, enlisted at Con- 

neatville, Sept. o, '61. Discharged, March 

30, '63. 
Calvin M. Rice, Corporal, enlisted at Conneaut- 

ville, Aug. 7, '61. Discharged, July 19, '62. 
William T. Ward, Corporal, enlisted at Girard, 

Aug, 27, '61. Discharged, Sept. 8, '62, 
Amos Allen, eclisted at Girard, Aug. 20, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharged, Dec. 

1, '61. 

.Tames P. Allen, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. -1, 

'62. Discharged, March 12, '6-. 
Henry C. Blacltmer, enlisted at Erie, Jan. 20, 

'62. Discharged, Nov. 13, following. 
Charles Boles, enlisted at Linesville, Aug., '61. 

Date of discharge not given. 
Robert L. Boles enlisted at Meadville, Oct. 22, 

'62. Discharged, March 2, '63. 
Asa M Belknap, enlisted at 'Beaver, Sept. 5, 

'61. Discharged, June 23, '62. 
Thomas J. Bowman, enliaied at Cranesville, 

Sept. 16, '61. Discharged, Sept. 24, "62, by 

reason of wounds received at Gaines' M 11. 
Russel Coburn, enlisted at Waterford, March 

11, '64. Discharged for wounds received at 

Laurel Hill— date of discharge not given. 
Thomas De Marby, drafted at Reading, Sept. 

28, '63. Discharged. March 9, '64. 
Theron Davenport, enlisted at Wellsburg, Sept. 

2, '61. Discharged, March 21, '63. 

Sanford Doty, enlisted at Spring, Sept. 2, '61. 
Discharged, July 23, '62. 

Ebenezer R. Ellsworth, enlisted at Dixonburg, 
Aug. 27, '61. Discharged, Nov. 11, '62. 

Edward S. Fenner, enlisted at Conneautville, 
Aug. 18, '61. Discharged, April 15, '62. 

George S. Fowler, enlisted at Conneautville, 
Aug. 27, '61. Discharged, May 31, '62. 

Shepard Fronce, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 27, 
'61. Discharged, Jan. 10, '63. 

Ebenezer H. George, enlisted at Beaver, Aug. 
25, '61. Discharged, Feb. 25, '62. 

Mvron O. Godfrey, enlisted at Girard, Sept. 16. 
'61. Discharged, Jan. 29, '63. 

D. C. Graves, enlisted at "Conneautville, Aug. 
17, '61. Wounded at ( iaines' Mill. Discharg- 
ed, Feb. 25, '63. 

William E. Greenfield, enlisted at Conneaut- 
ville, Aug. 20, '61. Discharged, Oct. 14, '62. 

Zephaniah Graham, enlisted at Erie, Oct. 23. 
'62. Discharged, March 12, '6-. 

Ira Hall, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 14, '61. Dis- 
charged, July 25, '62. 

Benjamin Lander, enlisted at Conneautville, 
Sept. 5, '61. Discharged, June 3, '63. 

Lucius \V. Lyman, enlisted at Conneautville, 
Aug. 20, '61. Discharged, Jan. 28, '63. 

William Lupher, enlisted at Conneautville, 
Aug. 18, '61. Discharged, Jan. 19, '63. 

Jared Munger, enlisted at Conneautville, .Sept. 
5, '61. Discharged, Oct. 20, '62. 

John C. Rockwell, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 20, 
'61. Discharged, March 1, '62. 

Warren Sawdy, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 20, '61. 
Discharged, May 15, '62. 

William R. Smith, drafted at Reading, Sept. 30, 
'63. Discharged by reason of promotion to 
Hospital Steward, U. S. A. 

Henry Spaulding, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 
19, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. Discharg- 
ed, Aug. 27, '62. 



Kinsley .Sceadman, enlisted at Dixonburg, 
Aug. 26, '61. Discharged, May 20, "62. 

Benjamin Stimpson, enlisteii at Conneautville, 
Sept. 3, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Dis- 
charged, Nov. 20, '62. 

Harrison H. Thompson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

20, '61. Discharged, Dec. 20, '62. 

.Jerome D. Tyler, enlisted atConneatville. Aug. 
17, '61. Discharged, Oct. 15, '62. 

Re-enlisted Veteran Volunteers. 

Joseph H. Bowman, enlisted at Spring, Aug. 3. 
'6L Re-enlisted, Dec. 24, '63. 

Thomas Cleary, enlisted at Steamhurg, Aug. 
27, '61. Wounded at Gettysburg. Ra-enlisied, 
Feb. 13, '64. 

Eli Green, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 1. '61. Re-en- 
listed — date not given. 

John McKinney, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 
215, '61. Re-enlisted — date not given. 

Jo.seph B. Potter, enlisted at Steamburg, Aug, 
31, '61. Re-enlisted — date not given. 

Harrison Raymond, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 

21, '61. Wounded at Gettysburg. Re-enlist- 
ed—date not given. Promoted to 2d Lieut, 
of Co. B, in the new organization, Feb. 17, 
'65 ; afterwards promoted to 1st Lieut. 

Daniel II. Stoddard, enlisted at Dixonburg, 

Aug. 17, '61. Re-enlisted — date not given. 
Jacob E. Swap, enlisted at Spring, Aug. 27, '61. 

Re-enlisted, Dec. 24, '63. Wounded and taken 

prisoner at Laurel Hill. 
Isaac N. Yancamp, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 17, 

'61. Re-enlisted — date not given. Killed, 

Oct. 2, '64, before Petersburg. 

Transferred to ihe New Organization, Veteran 

Reserve Cor2)S, &e. 
John Anderson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 11, 

'62. Discharged, INIay 29, '65. 
Dwight Beales. enlisted at Spring, Aug. 27, '61. 

Transferred to V. R. Corps — date not given. 
.John Beck, enlisted at Tionesta. Aug. 15, '62. 

Transferred to V. R. Corp^ — date not given. 
Gabriel Cams, enlisted at Linesville, Nov. 6, 

'62. Transferred to Y. R. Corps— date not 

given. 
Roswell Coburn, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

22, '64. 

Dennis Calvin, enlisted atMosiertown, Aug. 20. 

'62. Transferred to Y. R. Corps— date not 

given. 
Elias Durfee, enlisted at Erie, Oct. 24, '62. 

Wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel Hill. 

Died in Richmond about July 1, '64, from 

elfects of amputation. 
Charles Davidson, enlisted at Meadville, March 

29, '64. 
Levi N. Flint, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 27, '61, 

Transferred to Y. R. Corps — date not given. 
J. D. Fish, enlisted at Wate."ford, Aug 9, '62. 

Wounded at Bull Run. 
Prancis Farleigh, drafted at Reading, Sept. 30,. 

'63, 
Albert Frances, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 22, 

'64. 
Moses P. Grubb, drafted at Reading, Sept. 9 

'63. Died at Anderson ville of scurvy, Oct' 

20. '64. 
Arthur Gough, drafted at Phil'a, Sept 30, '63. 
Edward Girard, enlisted at Meadville, March 

19, '64. 
Henry .1. Glum, enlisted at Meadville, March, 

29, '04. Wounded in the battle of Laurel 

Hill. 
Calvin Hobart, no date of enlistment given. 
Fred Hu!)er, drafted at Reading, Sept. 9, '63. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



133 



Joseph Hull, drafted at Alleghauy City, Nov. 

17, '63. \^'ounded, Sept. 30, 'G4, before Peteis- 

burg. 
Milo Higley, enlisted at Meadville, ISIarch 13, 

•t;4. 

Alva Higley, enlisted at Wa'erford, March 29, 
'61. Killed, March 31, '63. 

Walter Halt, eulisted at Meadville, March 20, 
'04. 

James Johnson, enlisted at Tionesta, Aug. 23, 
'62. Discharged, May 25, '65. 

George Jones, drafted at Heading, Sept. 22, '63. 
Transferred to U. S. Navy. 

Robert Larmer enlisted at Waterford, Oct. 20, 
'62. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 

T/. Lawrence, enlisted at Waterford, Jan. 14, '64. 

David Marvin, enlisted at Penn Line, Aug. 
26, '61. Transferred to V. R. Corps. 

Alvin Mattison, enlisted at Evansburg, April 
5, '62. Transfeired to V. R. Corps. 

Aljrain McKinney, enlisted at Erie, Oct. 25, '62. 

Walter McKinney, enlisted at Erie, Oct, 23, '62. 
Captured at Laurel Hill and recaptured by 
Sheridan's cavalry. 

John M, I\liller, enlisted at Meadville, March 
24, '64. 

William McCarrick, drafted at Philadelphia, 
Aug. 13, '63. 

Edward Nsishot, enlisted at Meadville, March 
31, '61. Wounded, Sept. 30, '64, and since 
died. 

William Odell, enlisted at Meadville, March 
22, '64. 

Wesley Phelps, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 20 
'62. 

Martin Rudler, enlisted at Spring, Aug. 20, '61. 
Transferred to Y. R. Corps. 

.John D. Sanford, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 11, '62. 
Wounded at Laurel Hill, Discharged, May 
29, 'G'i. 

David Skeels, enlisted at Cassewago, Sept. 20, 
'Gl'. Wounded at Laurel Hill. Wouuded, 
Sept. 30, '64, and since died. 

John Stanfield, drafted at Alleghany City, Nov. 
17, '63. 

William Stewart, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 
21. '62. Wounded and taken prisoner at 
Laurel Hill. Discharged, May 29, '65. 

Charles Swift, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 9. 
'62. Transferred to V. R. Corps. 

William A. Lozer, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 26. 
62. Transfered to V. R. Corps. 

Richard Welsh, ei'listed at Erie, Oct. 5, '62. 
Wounded at Rappahannock Statio'i. Wound- 
ed and taken prisoner at Laurel Hill. 

Edward T. Webster, enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug, 9, '62. Captured at Laurel Hill and re- 
captured by Sheridan's cavalry. Missing 
since action at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, '65. 

Marcus M. Winser, enlisted at Meadville, 
March 30, '64. 

Killed in action, and died of wounds or disease. 

James Adams, drafted at Reading, Sept. 12, 
'63. Killed by accident, Jan. 13, '64, while on 
duty as train guard, on Orange & Alexandria 
Railroad. 

Anderson Allen, enlisted at Penn Line, Aug. 
24, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 

Elijah Allen, enlisted at Spring, Aug. 3, '61 
Died at Richmond, .Tuly 1, '62, of wounds re- 
ceived at Gaines' Mill. 

Edson R. Allen, enlisted at Spring, Aug. .3, '6L 
Died in Hospital at Alexandria, June 14, "64. 

F. M. Ames, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 3, '61. 
Killed at Gaines' Mill. 



Edward M. Banister, Sergeant, enlisted at 

Spring, Aug. 3, '61. Died of disease at Point 

LooVoiit, Md., July 22, '63. 
James Bishop, enlisted at Pittsburgh, Jan. 27, 

'64. Killed in the battle of the Wilderness. 
George Brewer, enlisted at Conneautville, Aug. 

10, '61. Killed at Gaiues' Mill. 
Thomas C. Burnside, eulisted at Girard, Aug. 

20, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Allen Bills, enlisted at Conneautville, Aug. 15, 

'61. Died in hospital— date not known. 
Irvin Cheney, enlisted at Steamburg, Aug. 25, 

'61. Died in hospital— date not known. 
Henry B. Custard, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 3, '61. 

Missing since the battle of Laurel Hill, 
Arza J. Dibble, enlisted at Conneautville, Au"- 

17, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Lewi-, Dodge, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 8, '61. 

Wounded at Bull Run. Missing since Laurel 

Hill. 
James A. Dunn, enlisted at Spring, Aug. 3, '61. 

Missing since Laurel Hill. 
Cyrus S. Francis, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 20, 

'61. Died at Philadelphia, Aug. 9, '62, of 

v/ounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
Loren Godfrey, enlisted at Spring, Aug. S. '61. 

Killed at Bull Run. 
James Graham, enlisted at Erie, Oct. 25, '62. 
j Died at Beverley Ford, Sept. 10, '63. 
! Edward Green, enlisted at l<]rie, Sept. 1, '61. Died 

at Washington, May 5, '64. 
Philip Grine, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 27, '61. 

Killed at Gettysburg. 
Warren Gere, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 19, '64. 

Died at Mount Pleasant Hospital, Washing- 
ton, D. C, May 31, '61, of wounds received at 

Laurel Hill. 
William Holbrook, enlisted at Waterford, Julv 

16, '62. Died of small pox near Falmouth, 
Va., Dec. 4. '62. 

John A. Klump, enlisted at Conneautville, Aug. 

17, '61. Died of fever at Savage Station, Julv 
5, '62. ' 

J. M. Landon, enlisted at Conneautville, Sept. 

1, '61. Died of fever at Savage Station, Julv 

30, '()2. ' 

Hiram J. Mallary, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 31, 

'61. Missing since Laurel Hill. 
Calvin H. Wilks, enlisted at McKean, Aug. 8, 

'61. Died at Richmond, Aug. 5, '64, of wounds 

received at Laurel Hill. 
Henry E. Mason, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 

26, '61. Died of fever at Fortress Monroe. 

July 14, '62. 
Henry R. Mason, enlisted at Linesville, Aug. 

20, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
William Read, enlisted at Steamburg, Sept. 1, 

'61. Died at Phil'a, of wounds received at 

Gaines' Mill— date of death not given. 
Nathaniel Read, enlisted at Meadville, March 

24, '61. Died of disease at City Point, July 

31 following. 
William D. Shaul, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 30. 

'61. Killed at Bull Run. 
Loren B. Strong, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 27, 

'61. Died at Baltimore, Aug. 5, '62 
.John C. Teller, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 22, '61. 

Died of fever at Savage Station, June 29, '62 
Oliver J. Taylor, eulisted at Waterford, Aug. 

'62. Died of fever at Washington, June 4, .63. 
Rufus Thalman, enlisted at Waterford, July 16, 

'62. Died of wounds received at Bull Run— 

date of death not given. 
Marcus Thompson, enlisted at Meadville, March 

24, '64. ICilled at Laurel Hill. 



134 



Judson's History of 



Stephen N. Warner, enlisted atLinesviile, Aug. 

13, 'f)l. Died, July 30, '63, of wounds received 

alGettvsbnrK. 
William D. Webster, enlisted at Watertord, 

Aug. 9, '62. Killed at Bull Run 
George Woodward, enlisted at Penn Line, 

Aug. 10, '61. Died in Hospital— date 

given. 
No. of deserters, 11. 



not 



Muster Roll of Company " I." 

Mustered into the service of the United Slates 
at Erie, Pa., Aug 27th, 1801. 



Capt. Hiram L. Brown, enrolled at E:ie, .July 
•29, '61. Commissioned Captain Aug, 27. 
Wounded at Gaines' Mill and Fredericks- 
burg. Resigned Sept. 4, '62, to accept com- 
tnission of Colonel of the 145th Penn'i'. Vols. 
Wounded at Gettysburg, 'Taken prisoner at 
Spottsylvania and placed under tire of our 
baitenes at Charleston, S. C. Promoted to 
Brigadier General Sept, 3, '04. 

Capr. John M. Sell, enrolled at Erie, July 29, 
'61. Commissioned 1st Lieut. Aug. 27. Pro- 
moted to Captain Sept. 4, '62, Wouuded'at 
Fredericksburg. Struck in tli"? left leg by a 
solid shot at Gettysburg, July 2, and died 
from effects of amputation July 3, '03. 

Capt. John H. Borden, enlisted at Erie, July 
29, '61. Promoted from Sergt. to 2d Lieut ; 
to 1st Lieut. Sept. 4; to Captain July 3, '03. 
Wounded at the battle of ihe Wilderness. 

Lieut. John M. Clark, enrolled at Erie, July 
29, '61. Commissioned 2d Lieut. Aug. 27. 
Promoted to 1st Lieut, and Adjutant, June 
27, '02. Acting Assistant Adjutant General 
of the 3d Brigade, from May '63 to April '64. 
Discharged Sept. 7, '64, by reason of expira- 
tion of term of service. 

Lieut. William J, Witticli, enlisted at Erie, 
July 29, '61. Promoted from Sergt. to 2d 
Lieut, June 27, '62. Killed at Bull Run. 

Lieut. Frederick C. Wittich, enlisted at Erie, 
July 29, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner 
at Bull Run. Promoted from Sergt. to 2d 
Lieut. Sept. 4, '62; to 1st Lieut. July 3 '63. 
Wounded at Laurel Hill. Discharged Sept. 
7 h, '64, by reason of expiration of term of 
service. 

Lieut. Abner R. Edson, enlisted at Bloomfield, 
Pa., '61. Promoted from 1st Sergt. to 2d 
Lieut. July 2, '64. Wounded Sept. 20, '64. 



Discharged Sept. 7th, 1864, by Reason of Expira- 
tion of Term of Service. 

James D. Ross, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, July 

29, '61. 
Perry C. Glancy, Sergt , enlisted at Centerville, 

Aug. 8, '61. 
Jud.son Ames, Corp., enlisted at Centerville, 

Aug 8, '61. Wounded at Cold Harbor, 

June, '64. 
•Tames Allen, Corp., enlisted at Espyville. Sept. 

15, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill, 
William A. Hill, Corp., enlisted at Edinboro, 

Aug. 15, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 
Joel Dichmau, enlisted at Penu Line, Aug. 

8, "61. 
Flory Grant, enlisted at Clarksville, Aug. 

8, '61. 
Gotleib Lehman, enlisted at Roulette, Aug. 

1, '61. 



Samuel Phoenix, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 19, '61. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at GaineV 
Mill. 
Chester Rich, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 28, 

'01. Wounded at Laurel 11 ill. 
Isaac lleeter, enlisted at Clarksville, Aug. 

28, '61. 
Samuel Tingley, enlisted at Clarksville, Aug. 

28, '01. 
Sevmour Wheelock, enlisted at Woodock, 

Aug. 28, '61. 
Discharged by Reason of Wounds, Disease, <&c., 
before the Expiration of their Term of Service. 
Francis Deschriver, 1st Sergt., enlisted at Erie, 
July 29, 'ill. Discharged at Seminary Hos- 
pital, D.C., April 4, '62. 
John Constable, (Putty!) enlisted at Erie, 
July29,'01. Promoted from Sergt. to Po.st- 
Master-General of the Regiment at Hall's 
Hill. Resigned his "commish" at Harri- 
son's Landing, July, 31, '02, in consequence 
of a dangerous attack of the dropS3''. 
Watson K. Wentvvorth, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 
5, '01. Discharged Sept. 19, '02, by reason of 
wounds received at Malvern Hill. Promo- 
ted to Lieut, in V. R. Corps. 
John Henry, Corp., enlisted at Erie, July 29, 
'01. Discharged at Georgetown April 16, '62. 
Morrow 1.. Lowry. Corp., enlisted at Clarks- 
ville, Aug. 28, '61. Discharged at Hall's 
Hill, Nov. 11, '61, by order of War Depart- 
ment. 
William H. Meade, Corp., enlisted at Youngs- 
ville, Aug. 21, '61. Discharged at Camp Con- 
valescent Feb. 6, '62, by reason of wounds 
received at Malvern Hilh 
James Oakley, Corp,, enlisted at Waterford, 
Aug. 1, '61. Discharged at Harrison's Land- 
ing, July 19. '62. 
Martin A. Buttertield, enlisted at Spring Creek, 
Aug. 0, '61. Discharged at Carver Hospital, 
March 30, '63, by reason of wounds received 
at Bull Run. 
Martin R. Clark, enlisted at Young.sville, Aug. 
11, '61. Discharged at Washington, Dec. 29, 
'62, by reason of wounds received at Gaines' 
Mill. 
John W. Dayton, enlisted at Concord, Aug. 
29, '61. Discharged at Baltimore Feb. 26, "63. 
Marshall Ekins, (or Aikens,) enlisted at Bioom- 
tield, Aug S, '61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, 
Dec. 24, '61. 
Benjamin Emerson, enlisted at Bloomfield, 
Auff. 8, '61. Discharged at York, Pa., Jan. 
10, '03. Injured at Gaines' Mill by falling oti" 
! a limb and taken prisoner. 
William D. Fleming, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20, 
'61. Discharged at Washington, Nov. 15, '62, 
by reason of wounds received at Bull Run. 
Andrew J. Fleming, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20, 
'61. Discharged at Baltimore, Dec. 8, '62, by 
reason of wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
Orson F. Gilford, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 
Aug. 6, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Dis- 
charged at Phila., Jan. 16, '63. 
Silas M. Gittbrd, enlisted at Harbor Creek, 
Aug. 6, '61. AVounded and taken prisoner at 
Malvern Hill. Discharged by reason of 
wounds at Baltimore, Nov, 24, '62. 
Albin (or Allen,) Haild, enlisted at Conneaut- 
i7ille, Aug. 3, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. 
Discharged for wounds at .Stoneman's Sta- 
tion, April 3, '03. 
Samuel Holmes, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 8, '01. 
Discharged at Baltimore, Oct. 22, '62, by rea- 
son of wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



135 



David Jackson, (for date of enlistment see Co. 

"D,") Wounded and taken prisoner at 

Gaines' Mill. Discharged Oct. 14, '(32. 
William H. Lapnrt, enlisted at Erie, Ane:. 9, 

"61. Discharged at Providence, R. I., Dec. 

S, '62. 
Cornelius R. II. Lynn, Musician, enlisted at 

Erie, Aul'. 30, '61. Promoted to Drum Maj., 

Jnue4, '62. Discharged Oct. 3, '62 by viriue 

of general order of War Department, being 

in excess of legal organization. 
Garry ISlerwin, enlisted at Centreville, Aue. 2, 

"61. Discharged at Camp Convalescent, Feb. 

11, '63. 
Eli II. Meade, enlisted at Columbus, Aug. 29, 

'61. Discharged at Baltimore, Oi!t. 26, '62. by 

rea-on of wounds received at Gaines" Mill. 
David J. Meade, enlisted at Colunil)us, Aug. 

29. '61, Discharged at Beverlv Ford, Aug. 

8, '63. 
Francis E. Mclntyre, enlisted at Columbus, 

Aug. 29, '61. Discharged at Washington, 

Oct. 31, '62, by reason of wounds received at 

Bull Run. 
Hugh McClenahan, enlisted at Waterlord, Aug. 

13, '62. Discharged at Washington, Aug. 

29, '63. 
Charles E. Pelton, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 27, 

'61. Discharged at Philadelphia. Nov. 17, 

'62, by reason of wounds received at Bull 

Run. 
Ransom Rickerson, enlisted at Columbus, Aug. 

28, '61. Discharged at Seminary Hospital, 
D. C, April 25, 'C3. 

William H. Smith, enlisted at Riceville, Aug. 

8, '61. Discharged at Seminary Hospital, D. 

C , May 29, '62. 
George C. Smith, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

8, 61. Discharged April 8, '63, by reason of 

wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
Ranford Sherman, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

1, '61. Discharged at Philadelphia, March 

29, '62. 

David 'I'uttle, enlisted at Columbus, Aug. 29, 
'61. Discharged at Washington, Feb. 9, '63, 
of wounds received Bull Run. 

Robert Vincent, enlisted at Erie, July 29, '61. 
Discharged at Camp Convalescent, March 

2, '()3. 

Francis H. Vader, enlisted at Waterford, July 
'id, '62. Discharged at Washington, Oct. 
23, '62. 

Charles E. Warner, enlisted at Waterford, July 
29, '61. Discharged at Philadelphia, April 
23. '62. - ' 1 

Thomas M. Young, enlisted at Clarksville, 
Sept. 3, 61. Disctnirged at Clifburn Hospi- 
tal, Sept. 2, '62, by reason of v^ounds received 
at Mahern Hill. 

JteenLlatcd Veteran Volunteers. 

Samuel Fluke, Sergt., enlisted at ICrie, July 
29, '61. Re enlisted Deo. 26, '63, Promoted 
to 2d Lieut, of Ci>. " (' " in tue New Organi- 
/jtion, Dec. 28, '(51, Resigned Feb. 12, '6,"), on 
Surgeon's ceriilicate of disability. Died at 
Erie, March 26, Ibllowing. 

Charles H. Hubbell, Sergt., enlisted at Bloom- 
tield, Aug. 8, '61. Wounded at (Raines' Mill. 
Re-enlisted Dec. 26, '63. Wounded at Laurel 
Hill. Promoted to 2d Lieut, of Co. "C" in 
the New Organization, Feb. 17, '65 ; to be 1st 
Lieut., June 10, following. 

Orlando S. Kinnear, Corp., enlisted at , 

'61. Wounded at Chancellorsville. Re-en- 
listed Feb. 25, '64. 



George Graff, Corp., enlisted at . '61. 

Re enlisted Dec. 26, '63. Wounded and taken 

prisoner at Laurel Hill. 
George H. Bedient, enlisted at Spartan.sburg, 

Aug. 6, '61. Wounded at "ciaines' Mill. Re- 
enlisted Feb. 16, '64. 
Timothy P. Babcock, enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. 1, "(Jl. Ke-enliisted iMv. 24, "6.3. 
Weslej- Babcock, enlisted •, '61. 

Wounded at INIalvern Hill and at Bull Run. 

Re enlisted Dec. 23, '6-3. Killed at Laurel 

Hill, 
George Harps, enlisted at Springfield, Aug. 5, 

'61. Re-enlisted Dec. 23, '64. 
Edwin R. Houghton, enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. ], '61. Re-enlisted Dec. 23, '(33. 
George Judd, enlisted at Younii,sville, Aug. 19, 

'61. Re-enlisted Dec. 23, '63. Wounded at 

Laurel Hill. 
Anthony A. liable, enlisted at Woodcock, Aug. 

4, '61. Re-enlisted Dec. 23, '63. 'Wounded at 

Laurel Hill. 
Walter D. Work, enlisted at Woodcock, Aug. 

13, '61. Re-enlisted Feb. 15, '64. Wounded 

at the North Anna. Received appointment 

of Lieut, in U. S. Colored Troo|)s, in the 

summer of '64. 
Robert L. Benson, Corp., enlisted at Waterford, 

Aug. 5, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill and 

Bull Run, Re-enlisted Dec. 26, '63. Killed 

at Laurel Hill. 
George Jacobs, enlisted at Erie, July 29, '61. 

Wounded at Malvern Hill. Re-enlisted Dec. 

2(5. '63. Died June 23, '64, from wounds re- 
ceived at Petersburg, June 20. 
Andre-w J. McPadden, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 

20, '61. Re -enlisted Dec. 23, '63. Killed at 

Laurel Hill. 
Walter F. Stacy, Sergt., enlisted at Columbus, 

Aug. 28, '61. Transferred to non-commis- 
sioned staff as Commissary Sergeant. Re- 
enlisted Dec. 23, '63. Discharged Oct. '64. 
Stafford Woodside, enlisted at , '61. 

Re -enlisted Feb. 26, '64. Killed at Laurel 

Hill. 

Transferred to the New ^Organization, Veteran 

Jieserve Corps., etc. 
Charles Albert, drafted at Readi nsr, Sept. 25, '63. 
Simon A.Amy, enlisted at Waterford,' F^b. 27, 

'()4 Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Jonathan Bishop, enlisted at Waterford, Sept. 

16, '(52. Discharged May 29, '6-5, 
Thomas Burns, drafted at Philadelphia, Aug. 

13, '63. 
John Breen, drafted at Philadelphia, July 30, 

63. Wour. ded and taken prisoner at Laurel 

Hill. 
Grovener Bailv, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

29,61. 
(jreorge Buttertield, enlisted atM^adville, Feb. 

22, '64. Wounded Sept. .30, fbllowiiiir. 
John Brown, drafted at Franklbrd, Aug. 13, '(53. 

Transferred to U. S. Navj' April 3(J, '64. 
Joseph Carolus, drafted at Norristown, Sept. 

12, '(53. 
John E. Carpenter, drafted at Pliiladelphia, 

Sept. 12, '63. 
James Conner, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

8, '64. 
T. C. Chambers, enlisted at Waterford, Aug. 

29, '62. Wounded and taken prisoner at 

Laurel Hill. Discharged May 29, '65. 
Walter P. Dustin, enlisted at Erie, Aug, 11, '62. 

Wounded at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, '(35. 
Hugh Dougherty, drafted at Philadelphia, Sept. 

12, '63. 



136 



Judson's History of 



Lafavftte Edson, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

:i4,'6l. 
Jlt^nrv Fishor, driifted at Frankford, Aiisr. 30, 

't;:^)." Transfer! C(l to U.8. Navy April ;K), '(14. 
James Glauey, enlisted at Meadville, Feb.8,'t)i. 
Eli Grant, enlisted at Meadville, t'eb. '29, 'G4. 

Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
James Graham, drat'ttd at Frankford, Aug. 

12, '63. 
Charles A. Grav, drafted at Philadelohia, ^\\\y 

:iO, '03, 
Hardy W. Gordon, drafted at Philadelphia, 

Sept. 2(j, '63. 
Oliver Hobald, drafted at Frankford, Pa., Aug. 

.30, '03. 
Charles IJaginaw, drafted at Philadelphia, Sept. 

11, '63. 
Lewis Hightes, enlisted at Mradville, Feb. 2, 

1864. 
John Jones, drafted at Phila, July 1, '03. Was 

wounded at Laurel I[di. 
(ieorge Jones, drafted at Ph.il'a, Sept 29, '63. 
Andrew Kuhn, drafted at Heading, Sept. 9, '63. 
James Lawler, drafted :il Reading, Sept. 7, '03. 

Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
W. F. Liebbart, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 

23, '01. 
.James E. Miller, enlisted at Waterford, July 

16, 62. Discharged May 29, '60. 
Charles Mvers, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 13, 

'63. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Patrick McClelland, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 

12, '63. 
Amos MeClenahan, enlisted at Waterford Aug. 

13. '62 Transferred to A'eteran Reserve Corps 

Sept. 1, '03. 
Franklin Mallory. drafted at Morristown. Sept. 

12. '63. Wounded at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 0, 

1865. 
William Morgan, drafted at Reading, Sept, 29, 

1S63. 
James W. Osburn, enlisted at Waierford, Feb. 

24, '64. Wounded at Laurel lldl. 
Webster A. Oldtield, eulisted at Waterford, 

Jan. ."), '64. 

T'atrick Reilley, dafted at Phil'a, Sept. 3, ''ji. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel Hill. 

•lohn ii. fci'hreves, enlisted at Waterlord, Feb. 
2!, '64, 

Darwin Shreves, eulisted at Waterford, Feb. 
24, '64. 

Daniel E. Snyder, drafted at Norristown, Sept. 
23, '63. Transferred to the U. S. Navy, April 
30, '64. 

Henry S. Tingley, enlisted at Meadville, Mar. 
4, '64. Wounded at Petersburg, 'lakeii pris- 
oner at Luirel Hill and recaptured bj- Sheri- 
dan's Cavalry. 

James Tumilson, drafted at Noiristown, Sept. 

12, '63 
Oscar L. Vaneise, enlisted at W;'.terfo.d, Feb. 

23, 'Oi. 
Chester A'ancise, eidisted at Waterford, Feb. j 

23. '64. Wounded af the Norlli Anna. 
John Vanc'se, enlisted at Meadville, Mar. 24,1 

'64. Wounded, Sept. 30, following j 

Hejirv V. Warner, enlisted at Meadville, Aiar. I 

28, '04. 
Ciharles Wilson, drafted at Frankford, Aug. 

13, '63. I 
Killed in Action, ami Died of WmauU and 

Disease, d-c. 

John Amos, enlisted at Cenlerville, Aug. 8, '01. 

Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Charles Biesel, enlisted at Spartansbus g, Aug. 

0, '01. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 



William Burns, enlisted .".t Ciarksville, Aug. 
28, '01. Killed at Ruil Run. 

James IJovee, enlisted ai Meadville, Fob, 8, '64. 
Killed at Laurel Hill. 

Peter B'mdtT, enlisted at Waterford, Aiis. 28, 
'62. Taken prisoner at the uattle of the Wil- 
derness. 

Ebinezer Bell, enlisted at Waierford, Jan. 5, 
'64. Killed at Laurel Hill. 

Charles Glibt)lf.fr, Corp., enli-ted at Erie, Aug. 
2, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 

Tliomas Cumminiis, enlisted at Etie, July 29, 
'61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 

David Callidore, dralled at Frankford, Autr. 12, 
'63. Died at Alexandria, Va., July 13, '64, of 
wounds re' eived at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness. 

Charles A. Dow, en istcd at Conneautville, Aug. 
28, '61. Killed at Malve-n Hill 

John Fisher, enlisted at ?Jeailville, Mar.24, "04. 
Killed at the battle of the Wilderne>s. 

.Joseph A. Foster, enlisted at Meadville, Feb. 

27, "64. l>ied oi disease at Washington, Apr. 

28, following. 
.John Gillenway, dafted at IVadiU'r, Sept. 17, 

'63. Killed at the battle of the Wilderness. 
Daniel Hause. enlisted at C>)nneautville, Aug. 

8, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Justus J. KauD, Sergt., eulisted at Ciarksville, 

Aug. 2S, '61. Wounded at Malvern Hill. 

Killed at Jjaurel Hill. 
Thomas J. Hill, Corp., enlisted at Erie, July 

29, '61. Died at Biltimore, Aug. 7, '62, of 

wounds received at Gaines' Mill. 
Columbia Hubbell, enli>)ted at INIeadville, Mar. 

24, '6i. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
Orvis Kellotrg, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 27, 

•01. Killed at Laurel Hill. 
John Karn, drafted at Reading, Sept. 9, '63. 

Ivilled at Laurel Hill. 
Solomon Lewis, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 29, 

'64. Killed at l^aurel Hill, 
(rooree Le D )0, eti listed at Waterfv)rd, Aug. 22, 

'64.' Killed at M.ilvern Hill. 
Paul Morion, drafted at Phil'a, Sept. 1'2, "63. 

Killed at Laurel Hill, Mav 10, '64. 
Henry Myn, draftetJ at Phira, Sept. 12, '03. 

Killed at Jyaurel tliii. 
FTaiuUu J. Miller, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4, '61. 

Died of disease at Washington, July 10, '62. 
George W. Mai-sh, enlisted at '"'eulerville, Aug. 

S, '61. Died of disease at Hall's Hill, Feb. 

13, '62 
William M. Musser. enlisted at Conneautville, 

Aug. 20, '61. Died at Washington. July 15, 

'62, of wounds received at Malvern Hid. 
Chester Molfet. enlisted at Coluinbus, Aug. 27, 

01. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Henry Redish, enlisted at Meadville, Jan, 2S, 

"64. Ivilled at Laurel Hill. 
Andrevv Bu.«t, enlisted at Waterford, Feb. 24, 

'64. Kdlod at Laurel Hill. 
Henry A. Rickert, enlisted at Erie, March 14, 

"62. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Foster Hockwell, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 10, "62. 

Died, Juh^ 5, 1863, of wounds received at 

G.-ttysburg. 
.Joiui KoyiKilds, enlisted at Mr'adville, March 
28, '64." Died at Fredricksburg, May 2.i, lb! • 
lowitisr, of wounds received at the battle of 
the Wilderness. 
Xormon Scott, eidisted at Centreville, Aug. 8, 

'61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
George W. " talker, enlisted at Woodcock, Au":. 
4. '61. Wounded at Mtlvern Hill. Uled, 
.July 7, '63, of wounds received at Gettyt-btirg. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, P. V. 



1S7 



Buss Snore, enlisted at Erie,Au g. 14, 'Gl. Died 

at Georgetown, D. C, Oct. 4, '62, of woun.is 

received at Bull Run. 
Curtis .1. Spafford, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, July 

29, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Robert Thompson, enl'sted at Youngsville, 

Sept. 10, '61. Died, Juh- 7, '63, of wounds 

received at Gettysburg. 
Edward Thompson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 30, 

'61. Died at Washington, June 4, '64, of 

wounds received at Laurel Hill. 
Orrin E. Terry, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, '61. 

Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Henry Thornton, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 3, '61. 

Killed at Melvern Hill. 
Ira Taylor, enlisted at Sparlansburg, Aug. 6, 

'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 
Charles Wilsey, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 8, '62. 

Killed at Laurel Hill. 
John Yager, enlisted at Columbus, Aug. 20, '61. 

Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
James M.Young, Corp., enlisted at Clarksville, 

Aug. 28, '61. Died, July 14, '63, of wounds 

received at Gettysburg. 

Ko. ol deserters, 28. 



Muster Roll of Company "K." 



Mustered into the sci'i'ice of the United States 
at Erie, Pa., Sept. Sth, 1861. 



Capt. Thomas M. Austin, enrolled at Erie. Pa., 
July 29, 1861. Commissioned Captain, Sept. 
8, '61. Resigned, April 27, '63. 

Capt. John Hechtman, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 
2, '61. Wounded at Laurel Hill. Discharg- 
ed, Sept. 7, '61, by reason of expiration ot 
term of service. 

Lieut. William E. Bates, enrolled at Erie, July 
29, '61. Commissioned 1st Lieut., Sept. — '61. 
Wounded and taken prisoner at Bull Run. 
Resigned, Jan. 8, '63. 

Lieut. Henry Austin, enlisted at Washington 
Tp., Erie Co , Aug. 22, '61. Date of promo- 
tion to 1st Lieut., not given. Wounded at 
Petersburg. Discharged, Sept. — , '64. 

Lieut. Edmund W. Reed, enrolled at Erie, 

Sept. 13, '61. Commissioned 2d Lieut., 

— . Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Kesigned, 
Feb. 14, '63. 

Lieut. Noble L. Terrell, enlisted at Harbor- 
creek, Aug. 1, '61. Re-enlisted as Veteran 
Volunteer, Dec. 26, "63. 

Discharged Sept. 7, '64, by reason of expiration 
of term of service. 

Leonard Gilbert, enlisted at Harborcreek, Aug. 

6, '6'. Wounded at Fredericksburg and at 

the battle of the Wildernes*. 
Truman W. Hvde, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, 

Aug. 3, 61. W'ounded at Laurel Hill. 
Seth P. Sturtevart, Corp., enlisted at Spring, 

Crawford Co., Sept. 13, '61. Wounded at 

Fredericksburg. 
James G. Terrell, enlisted at Harborcreek, 

Sept. 5, "61 
Martin X. Wetherbee, Corp., enlisted at Rome 

Tp., Crawford Co., Sept. 7, '61. Wounded at 

Gettysburg. 



Discharged by reason of wounds, disease, cCc, 
before the expiration of term of service. 

Egbert D. Hulburt, Sergt., enlisted at Erie, 
Aug. 1, '61. Discharged, Aug. 20, '62, by 
reason of wounds received at Hanover Court 
House. 
Oscar Wicks, Sergt., enlisted at Springfield, 
Aug. 2, 1861. Discharged at Convalescent 
Camp, Jan. 21, '6.3. 
Nelson R. Hays, Corp , enlisted at Greenville, 
Sept. 5, '61. Discharged by reason of vroucds 
received at Gaines' Mill. Date of discharge 
not given. 
Jacob Snyder, Corp., enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, 

'61. Discharged at Phil'a, June 25, 62. 
Charles H. Wetherwax, Corp., enlisted at Erie, 
Aug. 22, '61. Discharged at Convalescent 
Camp, Jan. 15, '63 
John M. August, enlisted at Youngsville, Aug. 
31, '61. Discharged by reason of wounds le- 
ceived at Malvern Hiil. 

Joseph F. Bradford, enlisted at , Sept. 7, 

'61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, Feb. 26, •02. 
Jerome Bassett, enlisted at Columbus, Sept. 13, 
61. Discharged by reason of wounds received 
at Gaines' Mill. 
Ira Bowen, enlisted at Harborcreek, Sept. 8, 

'61. Discharged at Baltimore, Dec. 27, "02. 
Lemuel Babcock, enlisted at Warren, Aug. 6, 
'61. Discharged at Harrisburg, July 11, "02. 
William Bishop, enlisted at Concord, Sept. 16, 
'61. Discharged by reason of wounds received 
at Malvern Hill. 
Milo Bailey, enlisted at Venango Tp., Erie Co., 
Aug. 12, '61. Discharged by reason of wounds 
received at Gaines' Slill. Re-enlisted, Feb. 
6, '64. 
George A. Bishop, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20, '61, 

Discharged at Newark, N. J., Jan. 23, '63. 
Lucius M. Chapin, enlisted at Venango Tp., 
Erie Co., Aug. 21, '61. Discharged lor wounds 
received at Bull Run. 
Harry Colburn, enlisted at Venango Tp., Aug. 
1, '61. Discharged at Baltimore, Apr. 11, '63, 
Stephen A. Day, enlisted at Spartansburg, Septl 
10, '61. Discharged at Convalescent Camp, 
Feb. 10, '63. 
Christian Ehrenfeuchter, drafted, July 20, '63. 
Discharged at Kelly's Ford, Nov. 29,"follo\v- 
ing. 
Henry A. Fross, enlisted at Harborcreek, Sept. 

9, '61. Discharged at Phil'a, Feb. 7, '63. 
James E. Gilford, enlisted at Venango Tp., 
Au^. 27, '61. Discharged for wounds leceived 
at Malvern Hill. 
Thomas Hopkins, enlisted at Harborcreek, 
Aug. 3. '61. Discharged for wounds received 
at Malvern Hill. 
Mathias W. Huntley enlisted at Venango Tp., 
Sept. 11, "61. Discharged at N. Y., Jan. 'OS. 
Irwin W. Hall, enlisted at Spring Tp., Craw- 
ford Co., Sept. 13, '61. Discharged at B I'.i- 
more, Feb. 10, '63. 
Allen J. Johnson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 1, 61. 

Discharged at Phil'a, June 20, '62. 
John Logan, drafted, Aug. 9, '63. Discharged 

July 25, '64. 
James McMahon, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 
5, '61. Discharged for wounds received at 
Malvern Hill. 
Herman Miller, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 5, 
'61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharged 
at Washington, March II, '63. 
John McCann, drafted, Aug. 12, '63. Discharg- 
ed, Dec. 14, following. 



B 



133 



Judson's History of 



Joseph D. Murray, enlisted at Waltsbur?, Aug. 

G, '62. Discharged for wounds received at 

Bull Huu. 
Oliver W. Morton, enlisted at Springtield, Aug. 

2S, '61. Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Discharg- 
ed in the v»riuter of '63 4. to accept an appoint 

inant as Lieut, in the United States Colored 

Troop ^. 
Charles E. Pettus, enlisted at Warren, Aug. 31, 

'61. Discharged at Baltimore, Sept. '62. 
Taomas J. Power, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 

5, '61. Discharged at Brooklyn, Jan. 15, '63. 
EmiliusPomroy, enlisted at Youns;sville, Aug. 

G, '61. Discharged at C^mp Convalescent, 

Feb. 11, '63, 
Walter R. Palmer, enlisted at Wattsburg, Aug. 

8, '62. Discharged at Washington, Oct. 30, '63. 
David W. Rhodes, enlisted at Springtield, Sept. 

15, '61. Discharged at Hall's Hill, Dec. 28, 

following. 
George H. Rhodes, enlisted at Springfield, 

Sept. 7, '61, Discharged at Hall's Hill, Mar. 

1, '62. 
D.ivid Sackett, enlisted at Erie, Sept. 4 '61. 

Discharged at Hall's Hill. Oct. 30, following. 
Thomas Smith, drafted, Aug. 13, '63. Dis- 
charged, Dec. 17, following. 
Jobn Schsibel, drafted, Aug. 12, '63. Discharg- 
ed, Dec. 17, following. 
Henry A. Skinner, enlisted at Wattsburg, Feb. 

2), '62. Discharged for wounds received at 

Gaines' Mill. 
Eias W. Taylor, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 26, '61. 

Discharged at Hall's Hill, Dec. 5, following. 
Ebenez:3r D. Tyler, enlisted at Erip, Aug. 28, 

'61, Wounded at Gaines' Mill. Dischaiged 

at Biltimore, S?pt. 1, '62. 
Adam S. Urmson, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 

5, '61. Discharged for wounds received at 

Malvern Hill. 
Jaob Young enlisted at Youngsville, Aug. 18, 

'CI. Discharged at Georgetown, D, C, April 

10, '62. 

l.e-enlis'ed Veteran Volunteers. 
H^nry M. Adams, enlisted in Wayne Tp., Erie 
C)., Aug. 12, '61. Ri-enlisted, De •. 26, '(ii. 
Promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, March 

15, '63. 

Milo Ames, enlisted at Concord, Sept. 7, '61. 
Wouadei at Gaines' Mill. Ro ealisted, Feb. 

16, '61. . 

Eiward W. Bates. Quartermaster' .<< Sergeant, 
enlisted at Yoangsville, Auj;. 6, '61. Trans- 
ferred to Non C)mmissioned tftatf, S^pt. 8. 
Re-enlisted, Dee. 24, '63. Discharged, Oct. '64 

Qaorge Bennett, enlisted at Concord, Sapt, 7, 
'61. R-j-enlisted, Feb. 16, 64. 

William B. Campbell, enlisted at Girard, Aug. 
13, '61. Re-enlisted, Oct. 26, '63. 

Giorge M. Dunn, enlisted at Erie, March 3, '62. 
Rd enlisted, March 9, "64. 

Alexander Ford, enlisted in Venango Tp., 
Crawford Co., Sept. 15, '61. Re enlisted, 
Feb. 16, '61. Killed at Laurel Hill. 

Pnilip J. Hirlow, Hospital Steward, enlisted at 
Greenville, Sept. 5, '61. Transferred to Non- 
jmmissioned Statf— date not given. Re-en- 
listed, Dae. 24, '63. Discharged, Oct. 64. 

Daniel B. F.-»ote, Corp,, enlisted in Venango 
Ti) , Aug. 17, '61. Re enlisted, De^;. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Laurel Hill. Promoted to 1st 
Sergt. in Co. " C," New Organization ; to 21 
Lieut. June 10, '65. 

Wilbur F. Haldeman, Corp., enlisted at Harbor 
Cr.ek, Aug. 12. '61. Ke enhsted, Dec. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Laurel Hill. 



Worden Hunt'.ev, enlisted in Venango Tp., 
Sept. 5, '61. R9-enli9ted, Feb. 16, '64. Woun- 
ded at Laurel Hill. 

William Kolb., Sergt., enlisted at Spartana- 
burg, Sept. 5, '61. Rg-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Gettysburg and at Laurel Hill. 

Isaac Keck, 1st Sergt., enlisted at Greenville, 
Sfpt. 5, '61. R-j-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Pro- 
moted to 2i Lieut of Co. " D,' ' in the Xew 
Organization, T^ov. 1, '64; to 1st Lieut., Dec. 
28 lollowing. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 

George C. Mallerv, Corp., enlisted at Riceville, 
Sept. 7, '61. "Re enlisted, March 23, '64. 
Wounded, Sr-pt. 30, '64, 

Owen J. MoAliister, enlisted at Union Mills, 
Sept. 16, '61. Wounded at M=il%'ern Hill. 
Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. Wounded at Lau- 
rel Hill. 

Norton N. Newell, enlisted atMcKean, Aug. 1, 
'61. Re-enlisted, Dae. 26, '63. 

John Robinson, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 10, '61. 
Re-enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. 

Calvin Squires, enlisted atConneautville, Aug. 
12. '61. Re enlisted, Dec. 26, '63. 

George Stevenson, entisted at Waterford, Aug. 

21, '61. Discharged, March 3, '63, for woundsi 
received at Malvern Hill. Re-enlisted, Feb. 

9, '64, Woanded at Old Church, June 2. 
Mark Sackett, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 26, '61. 

Re-enlisted, D.^c. 26, '63. Wounded at the 
battle of the Wilderness. 

Joel Huntley, Corp,, enlisted in Venango Tp. 
R-^-enlisted — date not given. Killed at Lau- 
rel Hill. 

Levi O. Wetherbee, Corp., enlisted in Rome 
Tp., Crawford Co,, Sept. 7, '61. Re-enlisted, 
March 23, '64. Died at White House, Va., 
June 10, '64, of wounds received at Old 
Church, June 2. 

Frank B. Welch, Sergt., enlisted in Spring Tp., 
Aug. 9, '61. Wounded and taken prisoner at 
Gaines' Mill. Rg-enlisted, Deo. 26, '63. 
Killed at Petersburg, June 18, '6i. 

Transferred to the New Organization, Veteran 
Reserve Corps., dx, 

Martin V. GiQ'ord, 1st Sergt., transferred to Co. 

" A." and promoted to 21 Lieut. (See Roll 

of C». "A," 
Ervin K, Black, enlisted in Venango Tp., Aug. 

1, '61. Transferred to Signal Corps, Sept. 

1, '63. 
William H. B^il, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 

5, '61. Transferred to Signal Corps, Sept. 

1, '63. 
Herman Biitler, enlisted at Wattsburg, Aug. 

10, '62. Discharged, May 29, "65. 
John Rick, drafted, Aug. 8, '63. 

Thomas J. Constable, enlisted at Erie, Nov. 

5, 'G2. 
John E. Oulve^, enlisted at Meadville, March 

22, '64. Taken prisoner at Laurel Hill. 
Michael Cole, enlisted at Meadville, March 22, 

'64. Wounded at L-aurel FLU. 
Edward Dix, enlisted at Meadville, March 

22, '(>4. 
James Ely, drafted, Sept. 10, '63. Wounded, 

Sept. 30, '64. 
Daniel W. Hatch, enlisted at Union Mills, Fapt. 

16, '61. Wounded at Bull Run. Transferred 

to V. R. Corps, June, '63. 
J. B. Huntley, drafted, Aug. 13, 't>3. 
John Hotfman, drafted, Sept. 9, '63. 
George Hoffman, drafted, Sept. 10, '63. Taken 

prisoner at Laurel Hill and re-C!«ptured by 

Sheridun'd cavalry. 



Eighty -TJiird Regiment, P. V. 



139 



Ilenrj' Jnne^, enlisted at Ricoville, March 16, 
'64. Wounded at the battle ot the Wilder- 
ness. 
Herman F. Kleinhiiis, drafted, Auj? 12, '63. 
Michael Keeley, drafted, Auk. 12, '63. 
John Krauss, drafted, Sept. 29, '63. Wounded 
at the battle of the Wilaernesaand at Hatch- 
er's Kun. 
Peter Knobloch, enlisted at Meadville, March 

18, '64. 
Henry L. Lease, drafted. Sept. 9, '63. Wound- 
ed at the battle of the Wilderness. 
Jonas Loch, drafted, Sept. 12, '63. Wounded 

at the battle of the Wiidernejis. 
William R Ludden, enlisted at Riceville, Aug. 

9, '64. 
Clark McAllister, ea'isted at Union Mills. Dec. 

39, '63. 
Alexander McKee, eniisted at Mill Creek, Aug 

8, '62. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Franklin McKee, enlisted at Mill Creek, Aug. 

8. '62. (Discharged, Sept., '64.) 
James McKinly, drafied. July 19, '63. 
John McDdvif,"dratted, Aug. 13, '63. 
John W. Munsee, euii-»led at Wattsburg, Jan. 

18, '64. 
Jasper E. Mallorv, enlisted at Riceville, Feb. 

26, '64. Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Henry Mee, enlisted at Meadville, Deo. 26, '63. 

Wounded at Laurel Hill. 
Winfield S. Patten, enlisted at Meadville, 

March 22, '64. 
George D. Peck, enlisted at Riceville, Feb. 

18, '64. 
Solomon S. Ridle, enlisted at Mosiertown, Oct. 

1, '62. 
William P. Sheflfj^r, drafted, Sept. 11, '63. 
John Stehle, drafteJ,Sept. 10, '63. 
David Smith, transferred to 10th Regiment Pa. 

George Storm, drafted, Sept. 24, '63. 

Jackson Shoniz, eulisied at Townville, March 

22, '64. 
Henry Van Wagner, ■^nlis'.ed at Townville, 

March 22, '64. 
Jacob Van Wagner, enlisted at Townville, 

Maich 22, '64 
Daniel Wissiger, drafted, Sept. 4, '63. 



Killed in Action mid Died of Wounds or Disease. 

William E. Hildeman, Seigt., enlisted at Har- 
bor Creek, Aug. 1, "61 Killed at Fredericks- 
burg, 

Walter Ames, Corp., enhsttdat Concord, Sept. 
7, '61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 

Sylvenus W^ade, Cirp., enlisted at Warren, 
"Aug. 1, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 

William W.Bennett, enlisted at Concord, Sept. 
7, 61. Killed at Gaines Mill. 



Benjamin Davis, Musician, enlisted at Lines- 
yille, Nov. 4, '62. Died of disease at Phil'a. 
Jan. 4 '64. 
William M. Fiemming, enlisted at Warren 
Aug. 6, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. ' 

George T. Foster, enlisted at Wattsburg, Aug. 
6, '62. Died of disease at Camp Parole An- 
napolis, Md., Got. 5, '62. 
George W. Fulwiler, enlisted at Connaautville 

Aug. 12, '61. Killed at Liurel Hiil. 
Daniel Gleason, enlisted at Greenville, Sept 5 
'61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. ' 

John Greenwald, enlisted at Greenville. Sept 

5, '61. Killed at Gettysburg. 
Charles Gafney, drafted, Sept. 8, '63. Missing 

in action at Laurel Hill. 
Henry Heckman, enlisted at Greenville, Sept. 
5, '61. Died of disea-e at Georgetown. D C 
March 7, '62. '' 

Charles Lumbard, enlisted at Concord, SL'pt. 7 
'61. Died of disease at Philadelphia, March 
18, '62. 
Cassius Middaugh, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 22 
'61. Died of disease at Georgetown. D C ' 
March 26, "62. ' 

John O. Moore, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 20 '61. 

Died of disease at New York, May 10, '62. 
Charles D. Mi*er, enlisted, Sept. 7, '61. 'Died of 

disease at Washington, D. C, June 10, '62. 
Alexander May, enlisted at Harborcreek, Sept. 

16, '61. Killed at Gaines' Mill. 
Edward Nessey, drafted, Aug. 13, '63. Killed 

at Petersburg, June 19, '64. 
Adam W. Pickard, enlisted at Concord, Sept 
7, '61. Died of disease at Hall's Hill. Nov. 
23, following. 
John N. Plainer, enlisted at Erie, Aug. 30. '61. 
Killed at Bull Kun. . fi , • 

Frank McBride, enlisted at North East. Au<». 
27, '61. Wounded at Hanover Court House. 
Killed at Laurel Hill. Re-enlisted Veteran 
Volunteer. 
Clinton J. Scott, enlisted at Harborcreek, Sept. 
8, '61. Died of disease at Washington, D. C 
Dae. lo, following. 



Elisha D. Salm >n, enlisted at Sugar Grave 
Aug. 26, '61. Killed at Bull Run. 

August StDultz, drafted, Sept. 1, '63. Killed at 
Laurel Hill. 

John Turnow, enlisted at Fairview, Aug. 1, '61. 
Died ofdisease at Hall's Hill, Feb. 27, 62. 

Gardiner Taunt, enlisted at Meadville, Dec. 
10, '63. Killed in the oattle of the Wilder- 
ness. 



Jacob Witter, enlisted at Rome Tp., Crawford 

Co., Sept. 8, '61. Died of disease at Fortress 

Monroe, June 29, '62. 
Lewis E. White, enlisted at Wattsburg. Aue. 

6, 62. Killed at Bull Run. 
Samuel Williamson, enlisted at Centreville, 

Aug. 5, '62._ Died of disease at Centreville| 

Heriry J Bashnell enlisted at Erie, Aug, 28, | Jam*es Wilson, dtafted, Aug. 13 "63 Killed at 
'61. Died in Kichmond, Va.. ot wounds re-| t >inrAi T^rtii •■■^^•, ^u^. >.■>, o.>. jvuieaai 

ceived at Gdines' Mill. Dale of death noti ^'*"rei jriui. 

No. of deserters, 25. 

Note:— All those discharged May 29th, 1S6.5, 
were discharged by order of the Secretarv of 
War. ■^ 



known. 
William Bull, enlisted at Yonngsville, Aug. 6, 

'61. Killed at Bull Run. 
Myron Blakesly, enlisted at Wattsburg, Aug. 

i2, '61. Killed at Bull Run. 
Thomas Crooks, drafied, Aug. 8, '63. Killed 
UPat Laurel Hill. 
Marion B. DeWolf, enlisted at Springfield, 

Aug. 21, '61. Died of disease, March 10, '62, 

at Union iriospital, Georgetown, D. C. 
1). B. Darling, enlis'e 1 at Union Mills, Sept. 8, 

'61. Killed at Malvern Hill. 



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*cince the above summary was made, the names 
ol4ij]iiteeii late deserters have been stricken out. 

WlftTE. — All members who are not accounted for 
as^ead or discharged on the above Bolls, were 
finally mustertd OTt of kervice at Hairisbu g ia 
July, 11865. 









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